The first time I consciously watched the Olympic Games was in 1996. I remember the opening ceremony, and the hype around all the exceptional athletic feats. I was still too young to appreciate the Olympics and what they meant. As the Olympiads went by, and I watched more in Nagano, Sydney, Salt Lake City, Athens, Torino, Beijing, Vancouver, London, Sochi, and today’s Rio de Janeiro, I began to realize something. The Olympics are the only event in which the world forgets its divisions. Instead, the focus is on humanity itself.

Picture © Rebecca Siegel, “Tiki,” 2013

There are so many divisions right now in the world whether it is between countries, political parties, states, neighborhoods, churches, co-workers, and even within families. These divisions have resulted in widespread sadness, depression, and frustration. But, the Olympics are the only event in which the world forgets it divisions. Instead, nations march together into the Olympic stadium of whichever city is holding the games together. They march as equals.

As I watch athletes compete in many different sports, I am encouraged to see that regardless of the outcome of the competition, there are usually friendly gestures, handshakes, or even hugs between athletes. The focus is on the love of the sport, the extreme discipline that goes into one training his or her mind and body as well as his or her focus into executing his or her skills to the utmost of not only their ability but the ability of humanity itself. That is why we see most athletes approaching world records because they have pushed themselves to the actual potential of humanity itself. There is a type of fellowship in that: between athletes regardless whether they know each other or not, but for them to meet each other and compete together in the same competitions pushing themselves to the potential of humanity itself, that is a beautiful sight to see. That is a type of unity among humanity.

There are several athletes I have particularly enjoyed watching over the years like Michael Phelps, Apolo Anton Ohno, Usain Bolt, and Shaun White. In the cases of Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt, I have enjoyed watching repeat performances in which we relive the same hype, excitement, and awe of human discipline, ability, and performance. It is also interesting to see the personalities of these athletes and to get into the minds of people who have so disciplined and trained their bodies to reach these levels of performance. It also reminds us that they are humans like us, and that reminder builds a hope in us that we can one day do the same.

When it comes to the character of the athletes, I find that the best performing athletes tend to be balanced by being focused and disciplined to an extreme degree when it comes to their sports but being laid back and positive when it comes to dealing with others. It shows us that we do not have to either be grievously serious all the time nor laid back all the time, but that striking the balance allows us to reach our potentials, and also allows us to be happy.

The fellowship, unity, balance, and hope that the Olympics give us a chance to see in humanity shows that in the depths of each and every one of us, a pattern emerges. It shows that regardless of what our backgrounds are, where we are from, what languages we speak, what educations we have, or even what ideas we hold fast to, we are all reflecting a deeper reality. It’s a theological one. We bear the Image of a magnificent and majestic God who has created us with the ability to think and to discipline ourselves and push ourselves beyond what we think is possible. We are self-aware, and we are oriented toward perfection by training ourselves. That’s what the world is missing, the training. But in the Olympics, it is so obvious because that is how one arrives to the Olympics.

What are your favorite Olympic memories? Who are your favorite athletes? What do you admire about them?