Last week’s question was a thorny one on the work/life lack of balance, a problem facing most of us and unfortunately, one with no easy solutions. Expect more on this in the weeks to come, but for now, let’s go with something more straightforward and less disheartening:
Oh, yes: it’s time for an Olympic reader response.
Here’s where I’m supposed to talk about the Olympians with asthma and relate their personal health histories back to my own kid, probably, but check out non-asthmatic (as far as I know) Shaun White instead:
Shaun White is 23 years-old now but only 11 in that clip, same age as my daughter. And – AND! – he was born with a heart defect that required two open-heart surgeries before he turned one.
Despite that inauspicious beginning, he started snowboarding when he was six, won his second gold medal in these Vancouver Games, and is the acknowledged master of the sport.
Ever watch him compete? With the other snowboarders, both his own American teammates and the riders from other countries, there is sometimes a stiffness in their routines, a nervous quality that comes across even on television. Incredible athletes all, and snowboarding tricks in general demand an uncommon kind of bravery and audacity of movement, but Shaun White’s fluidity almost makes them look wooden in comparison. When he goes on, he appears to be just playing. His performance is all, “Hey guys, gonna have a little fun here now, k?” as he bounces around the halfpipe and, in the tradition of all athletes at the top of their game, makes it look easy.
I don’t even follow snowboarding, but look:
Got a favorite Olympian? Who is it, and why?
My favourite olympians are speed skaters Catriona Lemay Doan and Susan Auch. Actually I love our whole women’s speed skating team to pieces!
These women inspired me so much at the Nagano olympics that I started speed skating soon after. Susan Auch also has asthma.
Oh yes, and all of Canada is pretty enamoured with mogul skier Alexandre Bilodeau at the moment. He and his brother, who has CP, seem to totally feed off each other for inspiration, I love it!
I have more, and frankly they’re all fantastic but Catriona and Susan are my top!
PS Kyra and Amy, a couple of my fave American bloggers have expressed their total bewilderment at the sport of curling. Yes, it’s totally a weird sport but in Canada it’s one of those weird-but-normal things. I had no idea it was such a thing. How’s Miss Sidekick’s project coming?
I do love Shaun White. I LOVE that he could have ridden down the center of the pipe and still taken gold, and yet, he put forth the ride of his life…and had FUN…you nailed it…he has fun with what he does.
I’m so bad, I don’t know anyone’s name…I just get a kick out of watching them all. I don’t love watching hockey, though…because my personal belief is that NHL players shouldn’t be in the Olympics. I get WHY they opened it up to professional athletes…but I don’t have to LIKE it.
I cheer for our American athletes…because I’m an American…but I can TOTALLY appreciate the fact the woman’s snowboarder from Australia put forth a better ride, and be happy for her. (I just would have been happier if an American woman had won)
I also totally admire an athlete like the woman’s skeleton rider, who had a horrific injury, and came back and was able to compete at the Olympic level again.
Danielle–I saw something just the other night on Bilodeau and his brother–they are wonderful. Told Kerri on Monday, I always get the girls’ schoolwork from the week before. This past Mon. the Sidekick brought home 3 assignments on curling & now two other students are writing about it, too. Her teacher thinks it’s hilarious.
Sara C–Yeah, I totally agree on the victory run–SUCH a classy thing to do & again, looked effortless!