I like sports. Most people who know me know I like sports. I like the Olympics and am partial to the summer games over the winter ones. When the swimming is on, or the track and field portions you will usually find me watching. I think I like the backstories as much as I do the events. Three caught my eye last week.
Allyson Felix, in her last Olympic performance on the track won the gold medal in the 4×400 relay. And with that gold medal, she now has 11 total Olympic medals, which puts her one more than Carl Lewis as the most for any American track and field athlete.
What makes her story even more remarkable is that she suffered a traumatic childbirth experience in 2018 where both she and her daughter, Camryn, were at risk. She was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia, forcing her to undergo an emergency C-section at 32 weeks pregnant. Camryn was born two months early and spent a long time in the NICU. Felix has since joined a program called Better Starts for All, dedicated to battling maternal health issues for women. She took her most difficult experience and not only made it through, but she is now helping other women make it through theirs.
Then there were the two high jumpers from Qatar and Italy. They tied with the highest jump. Both had severe ankle injuries in the recent past and were even unsure of making the Olympics. When the official offered them a “jump off for the gold medal,” one of them asked if it would be ok if they shared the gold. When they stood on the platform, they placed a gold medal around each other’s neck and hugged and cried. They train together and were as happy for each other as they were for themselves. They understood what it cost each to stand on that platform.
What about Molly Seidel? She was working as a barista and babysitter until she entered the marathon at the recent trials. She had run one marathon previously and at the US Trials ran a second, came in second, and was put on the team. Last Friday we watched as she, in her third marathon in the sweltering heat and humidity, took the bronze behind two women from Kenya, one the world record holder. I guess you never know if you can until you try.
I learned three life lesson in these three stories. We need to use our difficult experiences to help others through theirs, we need to cheer each other on to success knowing how much it can cost, and we need to step out of our comfort zones and try.
“I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.” [Philippians 4:13 HCSB]
