The Olympics were always bonding time in my family. We would curl up in our pjs on the living room sofa, my sister and I nestled between our parents and watch the athletes complete amazing feats that we could only dream of accomplishing. There were many exciting, and sometimes heart-breaking, moments that we witnessed during the Olympics over the years but the one that truly sticks out in my mind took place during the summer games of 1996.
The women’s gymnastics team was called the Magnificent Seven in the 1996 Olympic games, which took place in Atlanta, GA. Magnificent they were, managing to maintain a lead over the ever dominant Russians in the team competition right up to the final events. For the Americans, the final event was the vault.
Tragedy seemed to be in the air for the Americans on the vault that day. After several botched landings and falls from teammates, true tragedy struck. When it was Kerri Strug’s turn to take the vault she under rotated, thus landing in such a way as to injure her ankle.
“That’s the end of her Olympics,” said my father, ever the pessimist.
“Maybe she’ll be OK,” I chirped with my typical Pollyanna optimism.
It was clear that she was not okay as she hobbled off the floor. My mother frowned. My sister sighed. They were all convinced that it was over.
I remember the palpable energy in the air when, after asking “do we need this?” and receiving an affirmative answer, Kerri Strug limped back onto the floor to perform a second vault. I let out a little cheer, but the rest of my family still looked dubious.
If Strug landed her vault on two feet she would clench the gold for her team mates. No one in the room except for myself seemed to think that this was even a possibility, however.
We all watched avidly, unable to tear our eyes from the television set as Strug prepared to perform her second vault. I was awe-struck by the bravery of this young woman, Kerri Strug, who was willing to subject herself to what must have been agonizing pain and risk further injury to assure her team an Olympic victory.
We all held our breaths as Kerri approached the vault. When she miraculously landed her vault on two feet and saluted the judges a round of applause went up in both the Olympic stadium and in our living room.
To me, this moment is what the Olympics are about; struggling and persevering in the face of adversity, pushing through the boundaries of fame and doubt… and coming out on top.
Sources:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/espn25/story?page=moments/51
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