Recently, I have realized that some athletes just get it. They understand there is something bigger than the sport they participate in.
I have tried over the past few days of the Olympics to notice the stories behind the athletes. It is beautiful to see how these athletes use their platforms for good.
If you had the chance to watch the USA vs. Russia hockey game, you were not disappointed. The nail-biting ending to this rivalry left fans speechless. T.J. Oshie was the star of the shoot-out as he made four goals that led the U.S. team to victory.
What impressed me the most about Oshie was how he handled his interviews. He said over and over how he could not have done it without his team. Also, when he was asked how he felt about being an American hero, he said, “Heroes wear camo.” What a class act.
There are not many athletes who would sit in press conferences and defer the attention from themselves to their team or the military. Oshie knew the world had all eyes on him for those moments, and he used them to honor others.
Another athlete who used her spotlight in the right way was U.S. skeleton competitor Noelle Pikus-Pace.
If you have not heard about Pikus-Pace’s story, look it up. To say she is inspirational might be an understatement. After competing in the Vancouver Olympic games, Pikus-Pace left with a fourth place finish. She realized there was so much more life could offer her, so she decided to stop competing.
She has a husband and two children. After a miscarriage at 18 weeks, Pikus-Pace decided to start training again. She brought her children to workouts, and her family attended every competition she was participating in. This week she won silver with her family by her side.
Pikus-Pace gets it. She knew her family meant more to her than anything else, so she made it work so she could have the best of both worlds.
It is heart-warming to see stories like Oshie and Pikus-Pace. They are what make events like the Olympics so inspiring.
