2016, a year so many athletes have longed for, a shot at the Olympic Gold. It all started when a college student at West Virginia University, Ginny Thrasher won the first Gold Medal to bring home to the best country in the world in shooting. Since her win, the Medals continue to roll in for the United States in every sport from shooting, to gymnastics with the "Final Five" winning Gold and Aly Raisman and Simone BIles bringing home the silver and gold in the all around, to Kayla Harrison with back to back gold medals in Judo to Simone Manuel making history as the first African American to win an individual swimming medal for America and of course, Michael Phelps.
But, what has the 2016 Rio Olympic Gymnastics taught the world? Rio has shown much like other Olympic games that with hard work, dedication and determination, you can make your dreams come true. Being from small town, Massachusetts, my eyes have been on the hometown athlete the most, Aly Raisman.
So, what has Aly shown not only Americans but citizens of the world? She is not only a veteran on the USA Gymnastics team, and team captain for a second time around, but she has shown that even when you are at the top, you can still climb higher. After not placing in the London Olympics in the All Around in 2012, Aly came home, trained and went right to Rio, and showed the world, she is one of the best gymnasts in the world, placing Silver in the All Around with teammate Simone Biles taking Gold.
By her placing in the all around, Aly has proven the following three things:
1. Even when you try your best and it is not good enough, go home and work harder, because you can come back and make your best even better. After missing the podium in the all around in London, Aly came home to Massachusetts determined to make it back to the Olympics and medal in the all around. She put in four more years, working hard over long hours at the gym to make the Olympics in Rio and medal and she was successful, ending up with a silver and next to her teammate Simone on the podium above the person who knocked her out of the medals in London in 2012. Way to go Aly!
2. Family is everything. Many news media outlets have made fun of how Aly's parents have reacted to watching their daughter's performances in Rio, but they have shown the world what it takes to make dreams come true, even if you are a bit nervous and scared, supporting your children through each and every endeavor and goal they have, is what makes a family strong. Not only Aly's parents but her siblings aunts, uncles, and cousins have supported her as a team, helping to motivate her. Thank you Raisman family for showing the world what a supportive and loving family looks like!
3. Supporting one another makes you stronger. When Aly finished before her teammate Simone took the floor, knew she had placed high and was going to medal. Afterwards, Aly had silver and not once did she bat an eyelash in disappointment or anger towards Simone because she was getting silver and not gold. She showed the world that even when your competing against someone close to you, it is important to continue to support each other. By embracing Simone and celebrating her gold medal with her, Aly was a true class act.
In today's world with all of the issues in our school systems surrounding bullying and harassment, looking at the athletes like Aly Raisman in Rio have so many life lessons to teach to everyone around the world. Lessons that are valuable at every age. These athletes not not are chasing their dreams and teaching lessons to people around the globe, but they are inspiring tomorrows Olympians as well, allowing them to begin to dream and to see that it really is possible to become an Olympian with hard work, dedication, support from family and friends and a can-do attitude.
So, the next time you say " this assignment is just to hard" or "I cannot ever become the starting Quarterback" or "I will never hit the field" just remember what Aly and the other Olympians for Team USA have been through. Work hard, stay positive and support one another and you will succeed and most importantly believe in yourself and never give up on your dreams.
