Personal side of Olympic games brings home gold

Do you watch every moment of the 2010 Winter Olympics or only certain events or athletes? Are you interested in the behind the scenes stories? I enjoy watching most of the events even if I don't understand the scoring, but the personal side of the competitors brings the gold home for me. 

Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette performed her free dance routine almost flawlessly as a tribute to her mother. Joannie's mother suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after arriving in Vancouver to watch her daughter perform her dream. At the end of the routine, she could not hold back the tears and grief anymore. We cried with her.

Californian Mirai Nagasu has been skating since she was 5. When the family had to choose an alternate way to spend their afternoon because it was raining, they chose an ice skating rink. Mirai was a natural on the ice so the family pulled together to support her talent and dreams.

Her family are owners of a sushi restaurant, and often Mirai could be found sleeping in the back room of the restaurant. She did not know her clothing size because she always wore secondhand clothes. Olympic gold medalist Michael Weiss started a foundation to help families who are struggling financially and provided assistance to the Nagasus to travel to Vancouver for the 2010 games.

Vail native Chris Del Bosco, gifted skier from the age of 3, is now a member of the Canadian Ski Cross racing team thanks to his dad's Canadian heritage. He's a recovering alcoholic (sober three years) and has returned from near death after falling into a river as he staggered home drunk and high one night.   

Canadian figure skater Tugba Karademir was born in Turkey but her parents gave up everything for their daughter. Tugba's mother worked as an aerospace engineer and her father owned several restaurants in their homeland, but in Canada they worked wherever they could to finance their daughter's training. A few of the jobs they took were washing dishes, pizza delivery and cleaning toilets. When it was apparent they were not going to be able to afford the trip to Vancouver, a sponsor stepped in to help them be in the stands watching their dreams for their daughter come true.

We understand, or at least we think we understand, the level of commitment and drive it takes to practice for hours every single day while keeping up with school and other life commitments.

There are a few countries that used to, and maybe still do, have an elite training facility where the athletes live apart from their families and train extensively. Others make enormous sacrifices for their children or themselves to have the opportunity. But is it only about the opportunity to win a medal or participate in the Olympics? Could it be that the sacrifices are because of a deeper belief in giving one's all to something and having the support of family and friends helping to propel you to be the best you can be? 

Congratulations to each and every participant in the 21st Winter Olympic Games. You are all winners in our eyes.

Reach Gail Davis at 265-1947 orruhenstrothramblings@yahoo.com