Olympic success and failure

Acacia O'Connor Sports Editor

In the world of competitive sports, there are no championships or events that even closely rival the Olympic Games. Like the nineteen Winter Olympic Games that have come before, this year’s games in Torino, Italy have had unforgettable moments that reminded us that glory, passion and pride are universal human concepts. Although time still remains in the Games, the following are highlights that will likely define Olympics XX.

There are many inspiring stories among the Olympic athletes, but none stand out so much as that of U.S. speedskater Joey Cheek.

After winning the gold in the 500-meter individual speedskating event, Cheek, 26, sat down for a press conference. Before opening the floor up for questions, Cheek asked if he could make a short statement. He announced that he would be donating his United States Olympic Committee $25,000 gold medal bonus to Right to Play, a humanitarian organization involved in aiding refugees in third-world countries.

Cheek’s decision came after speaking to his hero, Norwegian speedskater Johann Olav Koss, who also contributes to Right to Play. Several days before the 500-meter race, Cheek visited the Right to Play office in the Olympic village, where he made up his mind that if he won the gold, he would also contribute to a greater cause.

“I think on some level it is empowering to think of someone other than yourself,” Cheek told reporters.

While Cheek’s story is a stunning example of altruism, another inspiring quality of many Olympic athletes is perserverance. Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao, a Chinese figure skating duo, displayed great determination on their way to earning a silver medal in the short program. The pair realized a great attempt would be necessary to dethrone the Russian team sitting in first place, so they included a throw quadruple salchow into their program. This maneuver is so difficult that is has never been landed in competition. During the move, Zhang Dan fell, doing a near split on the ice and sliding into the boards. The couple left to consult with a doctor, but resumed the ice several minutes later. They went on, despite Zhang Dan’s knee injury, and finished their program with a silver medal for their efforts.

Breaking records and barriers is another trademark of the Games. These Olympics, however, came with mixed feelings about one champion and the importance of a team. U.S. speedskater Shani Davis made history when he won the gold medal in the 1,000-meter individual race. Davis was the first black athlete to win an individual Olympic gold medal in the Winter Olympics.

While this is an important milestone, Davis’ actions regarding his U.S. teammates drew much criticism. When asked to skate in the team-pursuit event, Davis declined because he wanted to save himself for the individual races. Teammate Chad Hendrick blamed Davis when the team failed to qualify for the finals without him.

“I’m not a team player,” said Davis, adding that he came to the games to win medals in the individual trials.

Along with the great moments of the Games, however, there has also been the sting of defeat.

Olympic failure is failure on a superlative scale; it involves disappointment that reminds us that even
athletic superheroes are human.

No mishap of the Torino Games was more painful for U.S. sports enthusiasts than snowboarder Lindsey Jacobellis’ silver medal finish in the women’s snowboardcross.

Throughout the snowboardcross quarter and semi-finals, Jacobellis’ performances proved that she was a superior competitor. In the final race, when two of the four snowboarders fell and Jacobellis assumed a significant lead, it seemed that she had easily clinched the gold. What came next was one of the most shocking moments in Olympics XX: on the second to last jump, Jacobellis grabbed her board, doing a maneuver known as a method. When she came down, she lost her balance and tumbled down the slope, nearly going out-of-bounds. By the time she resumed her course, Tanja Frieden of Switzerland had already passed her to cross the finish line first.

Jacobellis met with severe criticism for a move that many have classified as showboating. However, the young athlete has said that she has no regrets.

“I know it’s the Olympics and everyone’s trying to get a reaction out of me,” said Jacobellis after the race. “I made a mistake. It happens. I was very happy to still come out with a medal after making such a goof.”

Fellow snowboarders have supported Jacobellis’ actions as understandable and natural in a sport that is more about style than speed.

“The freestyle aspect of it is where the soul of the sport lies,” said teammate Seth Westcott, who won the gold medal in the men’s snowboardcross. “It would have been a shame if she didn’t go for it.”

Though the quintessential heroic Olympian is widely admired, human faults and frailties often cloud aspirations for glory. Many of these athletes are teenagers and young adults who might not fully understand the spirit of the Games.

This practially defines the much-hyped U.S. skier Bode Miller. Miller entered the Games as a medal contender in five Alpine events and U.S. fans dared to hope that he could achieve an unprecedented sweep of the gold in all of them. Miller is also known for his partying—he once told reporters he skied with a hangover—and for his general apathy to the Olympic atmosphere. After four events, he has yet to finish above fifth place.

The older athletes whom we associate with Olympic virtue, such as the tenacious Michelle Kwan, could not hold up against younger bodies. Kwan was forced by a chronic injury to return home the day after the opening ceremony of the Games, before her last shot at an Olympic medal began.
For viewers, the Olympics are not only epic on an athletic scale; they also offer a parade of dramatic moments. These moments, whether manifestations of the Olympic spirit or lack-thereof, remind us why competitive international sports exist and are loved the world over.