CLEVELAND — Sometimes in order to fully appreciate something, you have to view it from the right vantage point. Now that the Olympics are wrapping up, people are already starting to debate how successful the games were, and it just so happens that I have some thoughts on that.
My personal Olympic viewing experience was fairly standard, in that I went from just having it on in the background while folding laundry to slowly becoming way too wrapped up in it until I found myself violently screaming at the U.S. men's badminton team for phoning it in during their match against China, despite the fact I don't really even know how badminton works and had no idea what I was talking about.
But I got into it, and it was fun, and inspiring. Watching all of these athletes from all over the world arrive at one place to compete was a welcome reminder that even though this COVID nightmare isn't over, we've come a long way in a year.
There were a lot of cool moments and some solid Olympic drama to keep it interesting, like the fact that the Russian athletes weren't even allowed to be called Russians because they cheated so hard in the previous Olympics that they were forced to use some pseudonym of shame. Before you start to feel bad for them, did you know that Russia also got busted for cheating in the Paralympics? I am NOT lying, look it up! That's some Grade-A villainy right there. No one weep for Russia.
The biggest story, of course, was Simone Biles, who it turns out is just as impressive and impactful off the mat and who reminded everyone that it's okay to say you're not okay, which is a good lesson for kids to learn and adults to remember. The fact that she also managed to come back and score a couple more medals for the good guys was very on-brand for our Ms. Biles.
Speaking of feel-good moments, another one of my favorites was this reaction video from a watch party in Seward Alaska when friends and family of Lydia Jacoby, the first Alaskan to make the U.S. swim team, took the gold in the women's 100 meter breast stroke. How can you not love jubilant Alaskans?
Of course, we had an impressive array of athletes repping our area as well. There was Cleveland's own Delante "Tiger" Johnson, who did us proud by advancing to the quarterfinals in the Welterweight Division. Well done, young man.
I love that Joe Kovacs from Columbus scored a silver medal in the shot put while just looking like most guys I know from Columbus. Congrats and way to keep it real Joe.
And how about Olmsted Falls' own Katie Nageotte, who took the gold medal in the women's pole vault competition after completing a 4.9-meter jump, which is roughly 16 feet and one inch, which is nothing short of insane?
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So yes, the Olympics were successful because they did what they were supposed to do: They reminded us of the amazing things that humans are capable of on their best day, and the obstacles we're capable of overcoming.
Oh and just more bright spot: Not to be petty, but the U.S. is bringing home way more hardware than that janky "I Can't Believe It's Not Russia" squad.
Scoreboard, Putin. Scoreboard.
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