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Olympics 101- Just show Up!
In this letter, Suresh Kumar emphasizes that showing up is always the essential first step to winning.
Dear Editor,
Ever since I can remember, the Summer Olympics never failed to evoke a sense of awe. Growing up in India in the 70's and 80's when only a few households had a TV, along with my brothers, I had to go over to my neighbor's home to watch the Olympics. Unlike the protected lives kids have today, like most children of my age, I had the freedom to manage my time any way I wanted as long as did my daily chores. One my first memories was watching American sprinter Carl Lewis win the mens 100m and 200m Gold. Watching athletes compete at the highest levels of human endeavor powered my personal journey as a college athlete. Sports - in particular soccer- gave me a sense of purpose in life and exposed me to leadership opportunities in the playing fields that has stood me good stead in real life.
The 2024 Paris Olympics has lived up to the grand tradition. After seeing the strange sight of empty seats at Tokyo, it was exhilarating to see the stadiums packed to capacity. While I cheered for American athletes, I was equally happy to see athletes from small nations get a place on the podium, some for the first time ever. It was delightful to watch how an unexpected bronze medal brought greater joy than an expected gold. The unpredictability of the final outcome is what makes Olympics so special.
However, as a dad and professor, I am a little disappointed that young people, my 13 year old and a majority of my students included, are just not as engaged with the Olympics as older generations were. I wonder if it is the effect of the overemphasis on academics, or the narrow focus on a single sport, or the easy dopamine effect overdose of social media, or just the busy yet often lonely lives that we lead these days.
Whatever be the case, I hope you had (or will soon get) the chance to watch the highlights of the Olympics with your friends, family, and children. If you did you would have given them a priceless gift- the opportunity to pause their lives and witness and appreciate the dedication and discipline that each individual athlete has to put in just to get to participate in this amazing spectacle. My prayer is that over time, our children will gain deeper insight into the true meaning and the spirit of the games; which is that Life is not only about winning medals- it is about showing up every day and doing the best you possibly can.
Watching the Olympics has taught me one important life lesson- just showing up is always the essential first step to winning.
Sincerely,
Dr. Suresh U. Kumar
President, The Indus Entrepreneur-NJ Chapter
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