Human interest stories of Olympics...

[Pea-n-Me]

I enjoy them even more than the sports themselves!

Yesterday I loved the story of the skater from France who was abandoned as an infant, adopted, then spotted on the ice at age 4 and also survived a serious illness... I don't care what country he's from, I was rooting for him!

Even the USA snowboarder yesterday who just missed the Gold last time, busted her hump training for the last 4 years, then became disqualified for a fall. Talk about The Agony of Defeat.

Love the little clips they show and the stories shared by the broadcasters and commentators.

Anyone else?

 

[OK!]

I don't know about this year, but in '06 they told the story of a female speed skater whose whole family had come to Torino for the Games; while there, her grandfather had a fatal heart attack. She still skated, but you could see her just sobbing as she approached the start line. It was absolutely heartbreaking.

 

[Jennasis]

Love those stories. They're what keeps me going.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

I agree - it is the athletes that make the Olympics special to me, not the competitions. Most are just there to compete for their country, with no real hope of winning a medal. Still, they come, and we are all better for it (if we open our hearts and minds)...

 

[OK!]

I totally find myself pulling for athletes once I know their stories, like the guy who won the men's moguls event. Once I heard the whole story about his older brother who has CP, I no longer cared that an American didn't win gold.

 

[PeterPan09]

I agree - it is the athletes that make the Olympics special to me, not the competitions. Most are just there to compete for their country, with no real hope of winning a medal. Still, they come, and we are all better for it (if we open our hearts and minds)...

Someone mentioned on another thread about the Summer Games in Australia-there was a swimmer there who could not compete with the other athletes in ability-but he was there for his country. Sure, he finished DEAD LAST after half the pool was empty, but he was there and he did the absolute best he could on that day. I remember he got a standing ovation from the crowd and it brought tears to my eyes. That's what the Olympics are all about, Charlie Brown.