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chrishansenhomeNow those of you who know me well will know that I am mostly not interested in sport. However, I have been captivated by Tom Daley's performances this last week. He is young, fabulously talented, gorgeous, and someone who obviously loves what he does, gives it everything he's got, and is absolutely overjoyed when he wins.
Diving has been monopolised by two countries in the past: the United States and the People's Republic of China. The event yesterday is summarised in this article, but what I want to concentrate on is the medal ceremony and celebrations.
The American was tight-lipped but smiling as he ascended the podium. Tom Daley, after jumping with his entire coaching and support team into the pool, all of them fully clothed except Tom, ascended the podium and when his name was announced, broke into a broad grin and jumped up and down for what seemed the longest time. He was absolutely thrilled and overcome with joy, and it makes my eyes a bit moist just to remember it.
The Chinese teenager, Qiu Bo, when he came in second, wept at the warming pool. And by the time he got to the podium, he was as unsmiling as those ubiquitous portraits of Chairman Mao in Beijing. He managed a weak smile once or twice while the three winners were doing their victory lap, and a bit of a smile when posing for a group shot with the other winners, but otherwise he was emotionless and expressionless, as inscrutable as the Chinese are often said to be but really are not.
There's a lesson here: Not everyone can come in first, but if you are close enough to be second, third, or even last, you have succeeded. And taking joy in life, wherever you finish, is a prerequisite for happiness throughout life.
Tom has also had his schoolwork to do, and this year he got four A grades in his A-levels (final exams before university), even though he has been training for the longest time. The Chinese divers are separated out early in life, only given rudimentary education, and pushed relentlessly to train and work out for their events.
I hope that Tom, who has had his share of heartbreak in life this year (his dad died young of a brain tumour earlier this year, and he and his diving partner came in fourth in the synchronised 10 m platform diving), continues to be able to take as much joy out of his life as he showed last night. He is a model for us all, and I am overjoyed that such a man is succeeding.
Diving has been monopolised by two countries in the past: the United States and the People's Republic of China. The event yesterday is summarised in this article, but what I want to concentrate on is the medal ceremony and celebrations.
The American was tight-lipped but smiling as he ascended the podium. Tom Daley, after jumping with his entire coaching and support team into the pool, all of them fully clothed except Tom, ascended the podium and when his name was announced, broke into a broad grin and jumped up and down for what seemed the longest time. He was absolutely thrilled and overcome with joy, and it makes my eyes a bit moist just to remember it.
The Chinese teenager, Qiu Bo, when he came in second, wept at the warming pool. And by the time he got to the podium, he was as unsmiling as those ubiquitous portraits of Chairman Mao in Beijing. He managed a weak smile once or twice while the three winners were doing their victory lap, and a bit of a smile when posing for a group shot with the other winners, but otherwise he was emotionless and expressionless, as inscrutable as the Chinese are often said to be but really are not.
There's a lesson here: Not everyone can come in first, but if you are close enough to be second, third, or even last, you have succeeded. And taking joy in life, wherever you finish, is a prerequisite for happiness throughout life.
Tom has also had his schoolwork to do, and this year he got four A grades in his A-levels (final exams before university), even though he has been training for the longest time. The Chinese divers are separated out early in life, only given rudimentary education, and pushed relentlessly to train and work out for their events.
I hope that Tom, who has had his share of heartbreak in life this year (his dad died young of a brain tumour earlier this year, and he and his diving partner came in fourth in the synchronised 10 m platform diving), continues to be able to take as much joy out of his life as he showed last night. He is a model for us all, and I am overjoyed that such a man is succeeding.
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Date: 2012-08-12 08:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-13 03:55 am (UTC)for tom daley in particular i think it's all about expectations. after coming in 4th in the synchro of course 3rd is great. unfortunately for the chinese diver his team-mates have been sweeping up all the golds so for him to come in 2nd is rather letting the side down, so of course he is disappointed. He was the favourite going into the competition. How do you think Usain Bolt would have behaved if he lost the 100m to Blake, even if Blake is from Jamaica? Or for that matter if Jamaica lost to the USA in the 4x100? (which, again, Britain, famously, did not manage to qualify. If they came in 3rd in that event they would have been ecstatic! (and canada cried too after being disqualified from 3rd!))
as a counter example, did you see the chinese guy who got silver for the modern pentathlon? it was the first time China got a medal in that sport, so he was pretty happy about it, and even managed to smile!
oops! i've gone on for a bit too long but as you can see i had a lot to think about during this olympics!
Happy and Glorious!
I still think the most memorable event will be the Queen "skydiving"!
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Date: 2012-08-13 07:53 am (UTC)I do understand the pressure that Qiu Bo was under. I suppose that a lot of it is cultural. Thus, it's hard for me to understand. What I would be unhappy about is if he were penalised or stigmatised for not winning gold. He did a great job and while he was not the best in this particular event, he excels in many others and, as he's young, he still has at least two more Olympics to compete in.
Bolt is a case unto himself. He has a personal rivalry with Blake, I believe, so if Blake had bested him, he'd probably not have been happy. But, you know, I think he's a naturally happy and exuberant guy and would, somehow, have coped.
Anyway, the Queen was quite dour throughout the opening ceremony so perhaps she was glum at missing out on skydiving.