I love the winter Olympics. I was lucky enough to attend the winter games in Salt Lake City in 2002. The energy, the spirit, and the camaraderie at the Olympics is infectious. When you are at the games, you honestly can't believe that there is any conflict or strife anywhere in the world. Everyone is there in peace to share their common love of competition and sport and desire to watch dreams come true. Unfortunately, this year, my schedule has been crazy, so I haven't watched as much coverage as I would like. Thanks to two DVR's, I recorded quite a bit and have been trying to catch up, sometimes days later. Even though I know the final medal results it's still exciting to watch all the drama unfold.
This year, my favorite athletes haven't actually all been Americans. Of course, you have to root for Shaun White, Evan Lysacek and Apollo Anton Ono, but not exclusively. For example, my favorite alpine skier of these Olympics hasn't been come-back kid, Bode Miller, but Norwegian skier, Aksel Lund Svindal. Maybe it's his sad back story (his Mom died in childbirth when he was 8), or his comeback story (after a ridiculous crash in Beaver Creek in 2007). Or, perhaps it's the touching connection he has with his father, clearly his biggest supporter. I loved his humble personality, his sense of sportsmanship, and let's face it, the guy is easy on the eyes! (yup, that's his pic above) And, how can you not admire the grace and the strength of Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette who kept herself together and skated to a bronze medal just days after her mother died unexpectedly of a heart attack. The dedication of Olympic caliber athletes is amazing; watching them do what they have trained their entire lives for is inspiring. If you ever have the chance to attend the Olympic games, take it. The feelings and the joy of the entire experience will stay with you a lifetime.
