The 2024 Olympics in Paris are all over everyone’s screens at the moment. I am a huge fan of the Olympics. Watching so many athletes representing their sports and countries while competing at that level is just so compelling to me. When I have time and a TV is near me, I will watch any of the competitions. There’s no Olympic sport that I don’t like watching.

I also love the background stories that some broadcast networks run, profiling and interviewing the athletes.

One cool story was about The USA Men’s Gymnastic Team, and specifically a young gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik on it. The team hadn’t medaled in the Olympics for many years, and they were especially invested in making it happen at the Paris Olympics. Nedoroscik’s contribution to the team was the pommel horse event. However, his event was last, and he literally had to wait for every single person on his team to go through all of their different events. The camera zoomed in on him, waiting at the back, sitting with his eyes closed. I knew he was likely visualizing and preparing himself mentally. He needed to have a really good routine for his team to medal and win bronze.

The commentators coined him ‘Clark Kent.’ He had been wearing glasses and a jacket before he competed. Then, moments before it was time to do his routine, he removed his glasses and jacket. It’s like he became a superhero at that moment.

When he dismounted, he had the biggest smile on his face. He knew he had done it. He handled all the pressure and performed the clean routine his team needed. His routine won his team the bronze. The happiness and elation that his team felt when they medaled for the first time in years was so special to witness, and everyone watching felt it too.

In another segment, a story featured black gymnast Frederick Richard, who expressed that his mission was to put men’s gymnastics on the map for gymnasts of color. He talked about how he had been one of only a handful of black gymnasts when he was a kid, and he was always competing against all of these people who didn’t look anything like himself. Before seeing his interview, I hadn’t known much about him. Learning his story and hearing him talk about his passion for the sport really made me want to root for him.

It is always really emotional for me to watch the Olympics.

Watching any of these athletes represent their countries brings up all kinds of emotions. I literally cry happy-proud tears for them. And I don’t even know them. But. I do know the journey. On some level.

I know how it feels to represent your entire country on a world stage. I also know how much hard work goes into being there on that platform. How much they’ve had to show up every day, for years, to prepare for that moment.

And I know the pressure built into that one moment. It is one moment, and everything comes down to it.

Another story that stands out for me this year is that of Simone Biles. At 27, she’s already deemed “old” for a gymnast. Yet, she’s still one of the best. She also keeps it real and is transparent about her journey. At the last Olympics, she had a mental lapse (the ‘twisties’) during an event and withdrew from the remaining events. This year, she won her team a gold in that same event, and has become the most decorated Olympic gymnast of all time.

Anyone can learn something from watching the Olympics.

The Olympics reminds us that success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes a great deal of heart. And time. Every day, not just one day. Practicing, figuring it out, and even failing,

The Olympic games are symbolic.

Yes, this week, we’re all watching these athletes compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
But what is your Olympics?  What is your Olympic moment? What are you preparing for? What are you handling the pressure for? What are you standing up for?

It doesn’t matter if your sport is an Olympic sport—it doesn’t even have to be a sport. But where can you see the Olympics in your own life?

It could be league finals, Junior Gold, or high school championships. It could be a dance recital or a concert. Whatever it is in your life that requires preparation, heart commitment, and mental strength—all of which we see in these athletes on the Olympic stage.

Your “Olympics” could be right around the corner. How are you preparing?