I’m not going to lie the Olympics this year were really hard to get excited about.. at first!
Oddly the moment that really caught my attention was a post event interview with BBC reporter Clare Balding “Your 3rd Leg was just prenominal!”
Classic stuff that reminded us that Olympians for the most part are just normal people with exceptional skill and work ethic. The reaction from the guys is so real and amazing!
As a Canadian and Nova Scotian how can you be anything but full of pride when you watch the determination of Halifax’s Ellie Black finishing 4th on the beams with a sprained ankle! Most of us would milk that for a week or two, laying on the couch having our family bring us food and beverages while we watched Netflix.
(Image from Ellie Black Twitter page)
The Canadian Women’s Soccer team beat the US for the first time in 20 years, need we say more? Incredible in so many ways, this picture from the Canadian Soccer home page really says it all.
One of the big disappointments for all the athletes had to be the “Anti Sex Cardboard Beds” in the Olympic Village, So many unused condoms being examined by airport security as athletes returned home, or where there????
https://twitter.com/mcclenaghanrhys/status/1416567768938291203
But for this wannabe Olympian who lives vicariously through all of their incredibleness, none was greater than Simone Biles!
So many times over the years we have heard the horror stories of athletes being pushed past their physical and emotional limits with serious long term consequences.
This week Simone Biles reminded every athlete and every human being that we all have limits, and its ok to take a step back and look after yourself first.
If Simone had broken her leg she would have not been questioned, ridiculed or received death threats. She didn’t break a leg though, she was suffering with mental health issues and decided to take the time and steps required to allow herself to feel healthy again. Such an inspirational move that took more courage (on the Worlds stage no less) than most of us will ever know.
Sadly not everyone recognized Simone’s strength and courage (Texas Deputy Attorney General Aaron Reitz was all over Twitter calling her “selfish, childish and a national embarrassment”).
Incredible people still think that way in 2021, but luckily most of us don’t and I have no problem admitting that I teared up when she took the bronze home last night.
No matter your nationality Simon Biles is the true hero of 2021 Olympics!
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