Funny, I'm glad I'm not in Sochi. I've been in places with bad plumbing and flooding, none for me, thanks. What I do love is the drama that unfolds, not in the geopolitical events surrounding the Olympics as much as in the actual sports themselves.
For instance, watching the men's skiathlon. As a skier, I know how much your arms and quads can burn on catwalks, how hard it is to pole along at altitude. Your lungs feel like they'll burst, but they don't, they suck in more air, and then more air, and you know with everything in you that you're alive and breathing and your body is working well. It's glorious. It's exhilarating. It's heavenly.
Olympic athletes make it all look easy. How strong do they have to be to maintain balance as they are flying through the air, racing, jumping? For the different ski events, how do the skiers not cross their ski tips, get hung up, how do they land like they do?
To strap on skis is an insane idea, because if you've ever had a "yard sale," a spill where you lose all your gear on the mountain as you fall down it, you know things can go south quickly, you know you can get hurt, you know physics will not always be on your side.
A case in point: Freestyle skier Heidi Kloser of the U.S. eats up moguls with her legs like they're dessert; they're cake, one after another after another. Should you doubt this, ski a good mogul run and report back on how easy it is. Tell me how you can get your knees to do what Kloser's knees do. To consider how freestyle skiers swallow moguls is to ask, what does it take? Natural ability? Power, strength, skill, nerve? Yes. To watch athletes who have given up so much to pursue their sports, who have been disciplined and changed their lives around to be there, in Sochi, is thrilling to watch, and I have to remind myself that even the ones at the back of the pack, the bottom of heats, the stragglers, are outstanding in their field. Outstanding.
Unfortunately Kloser injured her right leg during a training run in Russia, so she won't be able to compete in the games. It has to be heartbreaking to be this close, this near the competition, but not in it.
I have friends who excelled in their various sports. I wasn't one of them. In fact, at our high school reunion, my closest friends forgot I was on the tennis team with them one season. I did other sports more often, so tennis was a trial run for me.
Late into the evening at our reunion, one guy from our class, mentioned, "Oh yeah! I remember you on the tennis team! You were really awful." I felt strangely vindicated.
I was lucky. Because I didn't excel at any one sport, I played a lot of sports growing up, and I loved it. I never had pressure to excel at any one thing. I loved the camaraderie, hanging out with friends, the fun of competing, the physicality of sport. I still do.
I'm not a good spectator -- I want to be doing the sport. After watching the men's skiathon, I promptly got up, and drove to a pool to swim laps. Thinking of the Olympians lungs as they were skiing along, engaging their bodies in really hard work, made me want to do the same, make my lungs ache for air. The Hebrew word for spirit is "ruah," or breath, the Greek word is "pneuma;" that desire for air is so closely tied to spirit it's often the same word. If you're fully engaged in a sport, you work to catch your breath.
Sports metaphors abound in daily life, and, with the Olympics taking place, listen for them. Sports metaphors aren't new. From the Christian tradition, the apostle Paul wrote, "let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us."
This winter, as much of the northern hemisphere braces itself against extreme weather, many of us will be tuning in to see the Olympics.
With all the craziness that is the Olympics in Sochi, I hope the Olympic sports do what they do so well: inspire.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.