Janet Gogerty's Blog: Sandscript - Posts Tagged "rowing"

When I was at junior school I used to purposely leave home late so I could run the mile and a half to school. In PE lessons I was the fastest girl in the class pelting across the tarmac playground. Unfortunately this success did not translate to the grass of the recreation ground where the annual sports day was held. But when I watched on television the bizarre sight of adults running in a race, I genuinely thought that I could beat them; after all, my mother said that grownups couldn’t run.
At senior school I was always picked last for netball teams, but as I still think it the most boring game inflicted upon children, that was no great loss. Hockey was more fun, you could get away with not knowing the rules by just running up and down. But basically any sport involving aiming or catching balls was a no go area for me.
I never got the much wished for pony, so even with riding lessons at several stables of mixed repute, equestrian events were out of the question. So where did roller skating, tree climbing, ditch jumping and galloping round the school playground pretending to be a horse lead to? Adult me has enjoyed swimming, popmobility, aquarobics, dog walking, holiday hiking up scenic hills; activities that usually end in nice coffee shops not the podium.
But whether we are active or couch potatoes, most of us admire Olympic athletes. We thought nothing could beat the thrill of the London Olympics, but seeing Great Britain zoom up to come second in the medals table has set our hearts racing and for writers every person comes with a story. ( Despite the joke headline ‘Athlete wins medal with no story’.)
Team Refugee reminded us that not everyone has a country and exciting though it is to see your own country doing well, each competitor is a unique human being. For some competitors the drama comes during their event. Falling off, dropping out before the final, tripping up, helping a rival up, losing in the very last second. Perhaps the most poignant story was the French pole vaulter apparently booed by a crowd frantic with excitement at the prospect of a Brazilian winning. He was then booed again as he stood on the podium to collect his silver, while the Brazilian collected his gold. The incident went against everything The Olympics stands for. Outside the stadium, athletes who apparently invented a robbery story disrespected their hosts, brought shame to their own country and spoilt the World’s greatest party.
But for the most part, despite the dire media predictions of major problems, Brazil gave us a great Games and everyone will have their favourite memories. I loved watching horses jumping, men rowing, gymnasts spinning round poles, cyclists hurtling downhill and triathletes swimming, cycling and finally running out in front of the rest of the field to the finishing line, as the Brownlee brothers did to win their gold and silver.
Of course, being British, we cannot enjoy our triumphs without some guilt thrown in; an advantage over other countries smaller or without the same resources? After the Atlanta Olympics, when we only got one gold medal, it was decided something must be done; lottery money has poured in to support programmes to develop talent and most athletes are happy to agree they would not have got to Rio without it. But the Big Plan would not have worked without the dedication and hard work of the Olympians and their trainers. Now I’m off to watch the closing ceremony.