Part of the compelling nature of
the Olympic Trials and the Olympics themselves is seeing the stories of
redemption. Yes, the people who go to the Olympics and compete on the highest
stage of competitions are achieving their dreams, but so many of those stories
are filled with redemption. Everyone loves a comeback story, and to an extent, many
Olympic stories are filled with redemption. No one experiences a meteoric rise
overnight without hard work, and most reach the peak of their sport having
overcame different obstacles. Whether it is injuries, loss of sponsors, change
of coach, or other training difficulties, the road to the top is scarcely
smooth nor linear.
There were a bunch of great stories
from the 2016 US Olympic Track and Field Trials, and the ten days of races and
events were a lot of fun to watch and read about. It’s also one of the few
times a year when I actually feel like I know what’s going on in sports! One of
the most exciting and upsetting events was the Women’s 800M Final. A collision
knocked some of the country’s best out of contention for well-deserved spots on
the team: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYGUDtJvJLo
For many, the 800m was their only option, and so this was game over.
But for Brenda Martinez (who, incidentally has
a bronze medal from the 2013 World Championships in the 800m), she is so
talented and diverse in her ability that she was also qualified for the 1500m.
She managed to go through the heats of the 1500m, just days after her
devastating fall, and managed to squeak by and nab a spot on the team! And the
crowd went wild as the scoreboard revealed she got it. The best part of this
was that the winner of the race, Jenny Simpson, ran to find Brenda, hugging her
as she lay on the ground, exhausted from the effort and uttered: “I am so proud
of you…Nobody else could have done this.” https://www.facebook.com/nbcolympics/videos/10154821737755329/?pnref=story
It
was a beautiful expression of friendship and shared joy of two teammates
achieving their dreams together. This wasn’t just a feel-good moment; it
represented so much hard work and saying yes to challenges when others said no.
Speaking after the race, Brenda Martinez commented: “I
feel like it had to happen for a reason. And that’s the way I believe life
works, you’re going to get tested. And if people can see what I went through,
then maybe they won’t doubt themselves next time something happens to them. And
if I can give them any words of encouragement it’s ‘Just keep moving.'”
Just
keep moving. Such an important lesson to take away from this, and it has
such broad applications. I recognize that the obstacles and tests, and even
stumbles that I’ve had in life are small. However, my professional life as a
graduate student has had its share of obstacles, particularly during the
writing phase. And in moments of doubt, the previous failures and stumbles have
a special way of creeping back into my head at the most inopportune moments.
But those failures have been followed with going back to the drawing board,
keeping my head down, and figuring out ways to proceed.
Just
keep moving. It is so small and simplistic, and yet sometimes such hard
advice to follow. I have gotten a lot of writing done this summer. And some
days, the writing hasn’t been the most eloquent, but with just a couple of exceptions,
I have been writing every day. That is the habit that ultimately so many
writers encourage: cultivating a habitual writing habit. It is not always
natural, but it is exponentially more natural than it was a year ago, even six
months ago. Of course, so many liken picking up a writing habit to a running
habit, and I wish it came as naturally! But I have to say, even though there
has been mental “soreness” that has come from such intense writing this summer,
I feel like I’m finally in the groove with it.
Just
keep moving. I am rounding the bend on my doctoral program, well into the
depths of my dissertation. The finish line isn’t quite in sight, but it’s
getting closer. And the only way to get closer is, just keep moving.
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