Olympic Thoughts 2

Some of the athletes participating in the 2012 London Olympic Games have some rather inspiring stories – most leading up to the Games, some following heartbreak at the Games, and some involving both. I found many to be oh, so compelling; here are two that touched me:

Lori “Lolo” Jones: The 100-meter hurdles competitor from the United States has been the subject of much hype during the times leading up to the Olympics. Once considered a serious contender for an Olympic Gold medal, she tripped on a hurdle in the 2008 Beijing Games and finished out of the medals.

She has often been criticized for her values and her looks, and was the subject of an Aug. 4 column in the New York Times. Jeré Longman wasn’t gentle about it, talking about Jones’ failures on the track and subtly making fun of her.

The criticism obviously hurt her; on the Today Show preceding Tuesday’s broadcast, she talked about her disappointment in her fourth-place finish. And she unsuccessfully fought back quite a few emotional tears when she talked about how hard she’d worked and how much pride she had in representing the United States.

Lolo’s problem? She’s being herself. And some people just can’t stand that kind of honesty.

Liu Xiang: One can’t help but become emotional, along with millions of Chinese fans, at the tragic end to Liu Xiang’s 110-meter hurdles career.

After he suffered a ruptured Achilles’ tendon and had to pull up before he even attempted the first hurdle in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he was primed to repeat his Gold-winning performance in the 2004 Athens Games. But he didn’t get out of his heat.

He looked good, he looked happy, smiling as he poised to explode off the starting blocks. His start was a smidgen slow, but he at least made it to the first hurdle, leaping high to clear it. Unfortunately, he didn’t leap high enough and came crashing down to the ground, rolling over and gripping his right ankle (again!) in obvious pain.

Hopping off the track and seemingly headed into the training room, Liu suddenly reversed his direction and returned to the track, hopping on his left leg alongside the hurdles to the finish line. Brushing aside his disappointment, at least for the moment, he determined to finish the race.

I could feel the tears welling up when he hopped back onto the track, reached his lane’s final hurdle, and gave it a good-bye kiss, his career over, his dream unfulfilled.

It was not a good race. Three more runners fell, unable to finish. But the most touching scene happened after Liu “finished.” Two of his competitors – Andrew Turner of Britain and Jackson Quiñónez of Spain, supported him in their arms and helped him off the track. Competitors, yes, but friends as well.

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The athletes are the Games; their stories are as compelling as the competition and quest for medals.