“We are living in a world of crisis, mistrust and uncertainty. Here is our answer....athletes living peacefully in one Olympic village, sharing their meals and their emotions. In this Olympic world there is one universal law for everybody, in this Olympic world we are all equal," said Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee. Bach's speech opened the eyes all across the world as people gathered around their televisions for the opening ceremonies of the 2016 Olympics. The world is full of war and pain; however, this does not determine the future. If there is one thing that anyone can take away from these Olympics in Rio, it is that no matter where you come from or where your life has brought you, you are still capable of anything you can dream of.
While watching the open ceremonies, my mom had asked "well, what country are they from?" when they introduced the refugee team. This team has received some discussion because of one factor: they have no country. They have fled from their home country because it was not safe or they do not want to be associated with it. As Bach said "we are living in a world of crisis." Our world is full of destruction and some people get the blunt end of the stick. They are in the mess of it all and have to find a new way of life. These athletes have changed their fate. They have found a way out of a bad situation and into the world of being an Olympic athlete.
As I continue to watch the games, I find each athlete to find their own success and show others that they can find happiness as well. In my opinion, Simone Manuel has been one of the most inspirational athletes of these 2016 games. To watch her medal was absolutely incredible and knowing that she was the first African-American swimmer to win an individual event brought me to tears. She has opened up new doors for people who believed that they couldn't do it. It is truly inspiring and allows people to see how hard work can help change the world.
Simone is not the only one who has made their dreams become reality. In fact, many have made break through performances. Aly Raisman, a gymnast who came in fourth at the London Olympics, is a perfect example. She was able to show the world that she can still be one of the best in the world. With her emotional performance, Aly was able to earn the silver medal in the gymnastic all around and inspired so many individuals to never give up on their dreams.
While these games continue, I am glued to my television watching the Olympics. I plan my workouts around the prime time coverage and go to the gym so I can watch the games on the treadmill. I even tried to write this article while watching rowing but quickly decided I needed to turn it off because I became too distracted. I do not want to miss the inspiring moments that each athlete is capable of. These athletes inspire me to become a better athlete myself and a better person. They are some of the best at what they do. They have shown the world that we really all are equal. These athletes have made their dreams become reality and inspired others to change the world.
