Role Models of the Olympic and Human Kind

Today I am grateful for the much-needed rain we are getting this weekend and for the honor and tradition that the Olympic Games continue to embody.

Truth be told, I haven't watched much of the Olympics from Tokyo. I just wasn't feeling it this year. But as track and field competition got underway, I started following the results more. There are so many wonderful stories of perseverance that show themselves.  

Here are a few I noted:

*Gymnast Simone Biles, age 24, returning to competition and medaling after removing herself from some of the competition because of mental health concerns. She is also vocal about the impact of the sexual abuse of Larry Nasser that she and so many other athletes suffered.

*Hurdler Sydney McLaughlin, age 22, was a young high school prodigy and is now a world-record- holding Olympic champion. She exhibits a poise and self-awareness that tells me the adults around her were very intentional in keeping her grounded.

*Marathoner Molly Seidel, age 27, brings home a surprise bronze medal from Tokyo. She has been candid about her struggles with an eating disorder and the treatment that continues to help. In my own high school distance running days, I knew others who had eating disorders. It's more openly discussed and addressed now and that is so helpful. I appreciated her "We did it" as she crossed the finish line, acknowledging the help and support of others. 

*Sprinter Allyson Felix, age 35, becoming the most decorated U.S. Olympic track and field athlete of all-time, after winning her 10th and 11th medals in Tokyo. She has competed in five Olympics and can take her medals home to show her young daughter. I appreciate her longevity. 

*And then there is Tamyra Mensah-Stock, age 28, who became the first black American woman to win an Olympic wrestling gold medal. In a sport that is really gaining popularity, Mensah-Stock is the kind of participant and spokesperson you want. Here is her very heartfelt and genuine interview following her gold medal match. And a picture that captures some of her spirit: 

(Image from New York Post)

Though I know none of these women personally, their lights shone bright in Tokyo on very public stages with immense pressure on each and every one of them. With all the troubling news around us and around the world, these women are insightful, inspiring, and the kind of role models we can embrace. A sincere thank you to each of you!