Two weeks is a long time these days. It already feels like
the Olympics at Rio happened long long back. So, why a ‘top 10 moments’ blog so
late? It is because, in this age when we receive too much information, process
too little and forget too quick, I wanted to write about moments that remain in
memory, those that created an actual impact on me and those that we talk about
years down the line. Or is it my justification for just being a lazy bum?
Before we get into my list of the top 10 moments (Not the ‘Best’
moments, but the Top 10 moments), here is my disclaimer. Olympics has 28
disciplines, many of which I am utterly ignorant of. Like, Sailing, Beach Volleyball,
Judo, Equestrian, Synchronized Swimming etc. I am sure those events also were
splendid and would have had wonderful moments, but they are not part of my
blog. Apologies for my ignorance.
So, here we go, in no particular order.
“Against you, for you, because you. I do not exist without
you and neither do you without me.”
This
sums up the story of the greatest rivalry in Badminton: Lin Dan vs Lee Chong
Wei. Super Dan has won everything possible, twice, while LCW has won everything
except those that matter – World Championship and the Olympics. And that is primarily
because, when the stakes are higher, Super Dan was always able to up it a
notch. So, in Rio, when pitted against each other again, in the semis for a
change, LCW started an equal favorite, except for the burden of history. In
what was perhaps the best match of their career, LCW finally broke the barrier.
He won at the biggest stage of all. But what was the finest moment of the match
and the entire badminton event was the exchange of shirts by two of the
greatest players badminton has produced. That, in essence, is what sport is
made of.
Sportsmanship
One of
those heartwarming moments of Rio was the picture of Nikki Hamblin and Abbey d’ Augustino helping each other
after a fall in Women’s 5000m Heats, Nikki waiting for wheelchair to arrive for
Abbey and then finishing the race. She was given an honorary place in the
finals and finished last, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was the
sportsmanship, that really was the winner.
The Hard Truth
Every Olympics
has its share of poignant moments, moments which make us feel proud of
humanity. But there are also moments which show us the opposite. Berlin 1936
and Munich 1972 readily spring into mind. Rio also had its share. It was to do
with the Arab Israeli equation. Lebanese athletes refused to share Olympic bus
with Israelis and an Egyptian Judoka refused to shake hands with an Israeli after
losing the bout. Though the acts cannot be condoned, for the whole world to
treat Israel with soft hands and the rest of Middle East with prejudice is not
going to solve the issue.
Excellence
Michael
Phelps, Usain Bolt, Mo Farah, Simone Biles all came with huge pressure on them
to deliver. And all of them did that spectacularly with 14 golds among them.
While Phelps and Bolt will leave a huge vacuum in their respective sports, it
is stars like Simone Biles who give us hope that the next superstar is always
round the corner.
Women Power
India
sent its biggest contingent to the Olympics with expectation of double digits
medal count. But what followed was an excruciating first week which had so many
near misses and no medals. Just when hopelessness had set in, few awesome girls
came to the rescue. Dipa Karmakar made history in gymnastics, though it was another
near miss, and was followed by Sakshi Malik’ Bronze and PV Sindhu’s Silver.
The Privilege
Google
searches for Venderlei de Lima shot up at the end of the Opening Ceremony of
the Games. He got the huge privilege of lighting the Olympic Flame. Why was an
athlete with the best achievement of being a Silver Medallist being given this
honour in such a big sporting nation? The answer was simple. Brazil wanted to
right a wrong incurred on its athlete when he was pushed and interrupted when
leading the Marathon at Athens 2004. That he never complained about it elevated
his status even higher.
The Defeat
Grown
up athletes, men and women, crying is not new to sport. Crying after a win
makes us feel so attached to the sportstar. It shows they are human. But when
you see them crying after a bad defeat, particularly those with Calendar Grand
Slam to their name, in the only remaining peak to be achieved, then it hurts.
Even for those who are not their fans. The picture of Novak Djokovic crying on
his way out of the Tennis arena was a reminder that sport is cruel. Even to the
greatest champions.
The Gesture
Zehra
Nemati was a Taekwondo champion before an accident disabled her. But she was
not to be bogged down. She discovered Archery, won a Paralympic Gold Medal and
qualified for the Olympics this time at Rio. And as a fitting gesture, Iran, a
country with apparently less respect and rights for women, made her the flag
bearer. Inspiration.
A Shameful Past
United
States, with all its pluralism and openness has a very shameful pat with respect
to racism. As recent as the 70s and 80s, whites refused to allow blacks to swim
in the public pools at the same time. So, when Simone Manuel won the Gold in
the 100m freestyle, it was more than Gold. It was a reminder of the shameful
past, a lesson for the future and dedication to all those who were
discriminated against.
The Story Itself
But the
biggest thing about the Olympics is the Story itself. The fact that Rio de Janeiro,
a mega polis with millions living in slums, in a developing country, managed to
bid, win and conduct the event blemish less itself is a great achievement. If
Beijing 2008 was Grand and London 2012 was Perfect, I would say, Rio was Human.
Other Great Moments
The Japanese
Wrestler Slamming her coach after her Gold, the multiple proposals and romance,
Yusra Mardini surviving the Mediterranean while fleeing Syria and being part of
the Refugee team, Joseph Schooling beating Phelps were all moments to cherish.
