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FROM GOOD OLE UNCLE VICSeptember 2008
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Hello everyone, how are you? Well, The Olympics are over. Now I can finally get some sleep.
The answer to last week's trivia quiz, who are the only two athletes to win an Olympic Gold Medal in the same sport in four consecutive Olympics? Al Oerter in the discus and Carl Lewis in the Long Jump. Both Americans, by the way. Those that got it right were Tom Minarik, and Pam Monacelli.
This week's trivia quiz: How did the donkey come to be the mascot of the Democratic Party? Again, turn your answers in to Jami at Jami.Mignogna@BrickBodies.com.
Visions of the Olympics
Michael Phelps winning the 100 Meter Butterfly by outreaching Milorad Cavic of Serbia by literally a finger when it seemed impossible for him to win. Sometimes to succeed, doing your best isn't good enough. You need to do what is necessary.
Matthias Steiner of Germany winning the Super Heavyweight Weightlifting Gold Medal by 2.2 pounds on his last lift and then immediately falling to his knees right there on stage and weeping hysterically as he pulled a picture of his wife from his tunic. His wife had been killed in an auto accident this past spring. "She was always there with me. This gold medal is for her." Love really is eternal.
Jason Lezak of the United States coming from behind on the anchor leg against a favored French opponent to win the 4 X 100 Freestyle Relay for the United States and save Michael Phelps' bid for eight gold medals. "With all due respect, I didn't do it for Michael; I did it for the team." There is no "I" in TEAM.
Lisa Leslie of the United States encouraging all young people to write down their goals because dreams really do come true, shortly after winning her fourth gold medal as part of the victorious Women's Basketball Team, a record for team sport athletes. A goal is just a dream until you write it down. Then it becomes a commitment.
Lolo Jones of the United States kneeling on the track with her head in her hands at the finish of the Women's 100 Meter Hurdles Final after she had hit the ninth of ten hurdles while clearly out in front of the field and had staggered home a disappointing fifth. She composed herself for an interview immediately after the race and said that things like that happen when you compete in an event like the hurdles. But she was caught on camera sobbing against the wall in the tunnel under the stands as the realization of what had just happened overcame her. She was then part of the ill-fated Women's 4 X 100 Meter Relay Team that dropped the baton in the qualifying round and did not even advance to the final. That which does not destroy me makes me strong.
Becky Hammon, originally of the United States but playing for Russia in the Olympics, commenting after the Russians won the bronze medal in Women's Basketball that all she tries to do is leave people a little better than she found them. The really great athletes (and people, for that matter) make everyone better.
Valeri Vili of New Zealand winning her country's only gold medal of The Games in the Women's Discus. I had seen Valeri training in the two-car garage of my good buddy Phillip Mills' father's house in Auckland on a visit. Phillips dad, Les was a four-time Olympian in the shot and discus. The garage was humble to say the least and the equipment was old and basic. There were several young girls training together. "That big Mauri girl over there could win an Olympic Gold Medal in the discus" Phillip said. Yea, right! Two years later she did exactly that. That which the mind can conceive AND BELIEVE, it can achieve!
Natalie duToit of South Africa finishing 16th in the 10 Kilometer Marathon Swim (6.2 miles) beating 9 other contestants. Nothing amazing in that except Natalie duToit only has one leg. She lost the other several years ago in an accident. She felt sorry for herself at first but then she dedicated herself to sports and found out that she could still compete. She never used her leg as an excuse and was visibly disappointed that she did not contend for a medal.
Natalie duToit, more than Michael Phelps, embodies what the Olympic Games, Sports, and Life, for that matter, are all about. "Not in the winning, but in the taking part." - (The Creed of the Olympic Games)
Yours in Health and Fitness,
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