1. Anticipation
It finally has arrived. The Summer Olympics. You had personally waited four years for those fast approaching days to be able to watch the world’s top athletes participate in their chosen sport. Not only were you excited about the upcoming events but there was a sense of nostalgia when thoughts of past experiences of partaking in games, races, matches, etc. filled your mind.
2. Stress
Simply planning out one's week is stressful enough but now add in specifics where you must be in front of a screen or TV is even tougher. Once you chose your favorites (both the team and/or athlete), you had to find out exactly when it would be shown on the specific networks. Thankfully my network, NBC, was kind enough to supply the U.S. public with a lengthy list of the times and dates that each event would happen at. Sadly, you had to wait till the designated time block.
3. Wonder and Awe
Admiration for the athlete or sport you chose to watch grew as soon as you were shown the lovely backstory videos that the Olympic Committee supplied. Who didn’t think that Katie Ledecky meeting Michael Phelps ten years ago was not fate? Or that Yusra Mardini’s feat of saving 20 other Syrian refugees (with her sister and others) by merely swimming was not incredible?
4. Assessment
Eyeing up the competition. The athletes were doing it, their competitors were doing it, the spectators were doing it, you were doing it at home, and so was the rest of the world. Your main concern was to hope that the biggest completion your team/athlete had was not prepared to compete.
5. Impatience
"When will it be on?" you would exclaim at your TV. They would go through every other sport except the one you wanted to see. Stats from the previous days and interviews with other correspondents, but never the event you were hoping for. And you’re not trying to be disrespectful, but all you wanted to see was your favorite sport/athlete/team!
6. Excitement
Finally, it began! The officials give the athletes the signal to begin competing and all you could do was sit in awe. Watching those athletes made you want to get up and begin training yourself! The competition made you itch to just get off your butt and spend hours running, lifting, strengthening…wait, hold on that was probably just be me!
7. Anxiety
Oh no, they were: falling behind, made a deduction, missed a point, etc.! You were tensely sitting there, hoping that whatever happened wouldn’t affect the outcome of their Olympic career.
8. Concentration
You’ve zeroed in. Totally focused. Adrenaline pumping and you’re not even competing! It could have been raining cats and dogs and you wouldn’t have noticed. All you wanted to see was who was going to make the finals or win a medal.
9. Triumph/Disappointment
You either were out of your seat cheering your butt off or politely respecting the outcome that was unexpected. However, with both reactions, you can’t help but marvel at the athletes and competitors. The mere strength, equally physical and mental, that they contained to allow them to qualify and compete in the largest games available to the world.
Even if you only watched the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics merely for entertainment, you were sure to catch the feels. Sorry to say, but who wouldn’t! The men and women who participated in the games are beyond impressive and should be recognized no matter what place they earned. Just qualifying is a feat within itself, but then competing on a global stage is just downright impressive. I give both respect and congratulations to not only the USA Olympic Team but also the rest of the Olympic teams of the world; kudos to you guys!
