A reminder that joy exists
And lightness is OK even if the world feels shitty
I know people joke about what they’re going to do now that the Olympics are over but seriously, what am I going to do?
I know that there’s a lot wrong with the IOC, the whole history of the Olympic movement, the expense and resources it takes to put on this spectacle every four years as well as the ugliness it can bring out in people. I’m not naive to that nor turning a blind eye.
But I don’t know. I felt like I needed this Olympics. There was an excitement around the Games that felt so different, that’s been missing over the last few cycles, even before Tokyo.
It felt good to have something to root for, people to get behind, something to be excited about. Because, if I’m honest, I’ve felt like I’ve had my head down for the last several months (years?) just trying to get through, just trying to solve one problem at a time, just trying to survive.
But it wasn’t just the excitement of watching the Games. There was joy—palpable joy.
There was joy in witnessing Celine Dion sing live during the opening ceremonies, doing the thing that she loves for the first time since 2020.
There was joy on the faces of the U.S. women’s gymnastics team. Laughing, cheering, and supporting each other. Bounding up onto the podium and jumping like kids to celebrate their team win. They were giddy and it was such a stark contrast from previous competitions where the gymnastics looked much more stoic and, frankly, scared.
There was joy in listening to Kara Goucher call the men’s 1500m race and Cole Hocker’s flawless race to win gold. (Frankly there was such joy and enthusiasm in Kara’s commentary throughout the meet. Her love of the sport is so apparent and it makes you excited to watch track.)
There was joy whenever I saw Nikki Hiltz, whether drenched in the rain during opening ceremonies or stepping onto the track to run a heat or celebrating with teammates. They were just soaking it all in.
There was joy when Noémie Fox started the final of the kayak cross race. (I mean, there was joy from watching this sport because what?! Who came up with this? It’s like Super Mario Kart in the water.) There was even more joy when she won and her sister Jess, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and who Noémie had to beat in order to get to the final, jumped in the water to celebrate with her.
There was joy in the whole internet going nuts over our friend Stephen Nedoroscik aka Pommel Horse Guy. And Bobby Finke making his coach Anthony Nesty cry when he won the 1500m in the pool and sent a new world record.
There was joy in the quirky fandoms that emerge every four years, when it’s OK to nerd out on niche obsessions and sports (although I wish we maintained regardless of whether it’s an Olympic year).
I worry sometimes about the way we make sport the end-all and be-all. We make sport in service of something else, a means to an end, and we forget about the present moment and lose sight of the possibilities that are inherent in sport. It’s something that Jemima Montag, an athlete from Australia who won a bronze medal in the race walk, captures in her post-race interview:
“It’s a careful balance of wanting that medal but not needing it…So not needing it for your own self worth or feeling that people love you but wanting it and saying I’m willing to give this a crack and be tough. And if it doesn’t happen, the sun will rise tomorrow but let’s give it a go…
Sport is about community and a sense of belonging, making friends, looking after our physical and mental health, learning amazing life skills like dedication and leadership, which are all such great things for the next generation of women and girls.”
That’s all I’ve ever wanted from sport for myself and for my kids if they wanted to play sports. I want them to have fun. I want them to have this contained environment where they can test themselves, work out how to handle disappointment and setbacks alongside the wins without losing the core of who they are.
Maybe I’m being naive. Maybe it’s unrealistic. Maybe it’s unattainable. Untenable?
But I know I needed these past two weeks. I needed the excitement, the joy, the hope.
Maybe it’s because happiness and joy aren’t my natural default states, that they’re things that I have to consciously practice. Otherwise my mechanics aren’t quite right. I feel stiff and awkward, like my muscles aren’t coordinated or firing correctly.
Maybe it’s a reminder that lightness is OK even when there’s a lot going on in your world and the world. Maybe it’s a reminder that it’s not indulgent to be happy or joyful.
Thanks for being here. More soon.
Christine
Thank you for sharing your perspective. As an American, I too enjoyed cheering on the American athletes. But as a lifelong coach, I enjoyed watching all of the best in the world do what they do in their respective sports. Credit to France for doing an excellent job of hosting a very complex event. And like you said, no doubt the exuberance and enthusiasm of the sports announcers who helped us further enjoy the Olympic Games. Lastly, shout out to Snoop Dogg for adding his unique fun flair to the games.