There are many good reasons to ignore the Olympics. Those reasons include corruption within the International Olympic Committee and the human rights record of the host nation. Yet, I spent an amazing amount of hours this past weekend watching the Winter Olympics. Part of it is muscle memory. I grew up watching the Olympics and that practice has continued in adulthood. This year, I have enjoyed watching the downhill, moguls, big air, ski jumping, and curling. Figure skating does not make the list only because I find I get very anxious when I watch it!

 

My current favorite Winter Olympic sport is short track, which is an odd combination of speed skating and roller derby. The rules elude me and there are so many crashes and I cannot stop watching it. Is that a metaphor for life these days?  Here is a highlight reel of crashes from the last winter Olympics.

 

Really, seriously, why do I love watching the Olympics?

 

They remind me that we humans are created by God and we are amazing! The Olympics remind me that we humans are strong and fast and flexible and creative and graceful and beautiful. These days we have so many reminders of all that separates us, all that tears us apart. Yet in the midst of watching Olympic competition, I lose track of who represents what country and I am simply in awe of the human capacity to do beautiful and wonderful things.

 

What is your favorite Olympic sport and why?

 

-Written by Rev. Amy Miracle

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5 Comments

  1. Barbara J. Lucks February 9, 2022 at 11:42 am - Reply

    Bobsledding because I was lucky enough to get to ride the 4 -man bobsled over the Salt Lake Olympic course with an Olympic hopeful driver. The G-Force was so great that just keeping oneself in position was unbelievably difficult. A real rush, and a check off my bucket list, but I don’t view it as a fun little sled ride anymore.

  2. Betty Lou Stull February 9, 2022 at 11:58 am - Reply

    I have the same muscle memory you have although it’s as a mother watching with four daughters. They have the same memories so communication always bumps up during the Olympics.

    I love the figure skating. My anxiety is high on the skiing jumps, and yes, I stayed up later than normal to watch Shaun White qualify for the finals. It took two tries, but he made it.

    I see the Olympics as a visible reminder of how wonderfully made we humans are, and as the visible hope for a world where everyone is accepted.

  3. Libby Wetherholt February 9, 2022 at 2:23 pm - Reply

    I love the figure skating because of the grace, flexibility, and creativity as well as the physical prowess in completing however many axels they can. I can still name many of the figure skaters from the past–like, Dorothy Hamill, Sonja Henjie (?) and even some of the men–Scott Hamilton. Of course the music is an integral part of it as well and the ice dancing has become a favorite of mine.

  4. Jeff Beam February 9, 2022 at 8:32 pm - Reply

    Biathlon. They ski enormous distances in harsh conditions to a point that any human’s heart is racing and lungs are heaving. And then they somehow find the calm and stillness to target shoot. It’s amazing.

    Honorable mention to figure skating. It’s not usually for me, but my nine-year-old doesn’t care about geopolitics, judges, or nationalism… she is just enthralled at the wonder that is Kamila Valieva.

  5. Pamela Schirner February 10, 2022 at 10:00 am - Reply

    Figure skating is my favorite, making it look oh so easy when we know it’s not. Also snowboarding, ski jumping, luge (crazy scary) and bobsled. It’s so awesome to see what levels the human body can reach. I would not have that discipline. It’s just sheer beauty for me.

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