By Tom Thomas –
“The important thing in life is not victory but combat; it is not to have vanquished but to have fought well” – Pierre De Coubertin
Faster, Higher, Stronger!
Notwithstanding the apology Olympics organisers following anger among Catholics and other Christian groups at opening ceremony segment of the Paris event that resembled biblical scene of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper painting with drag queens, a transgender model and a singer made up as the Greek god of wine, the eyes of the world will be focused on Paris for the next two weeks as the Olympics gets underway.
It is remarkable when one thinks of the years and years of hard work and training required for the athletes that is required to get to this stage. They need to summon all their physical and mental reserves to perform and see if they can match up to the world’s best in the discipline of their choice. The unexpected can happen, and hopes can come crashing down in an instant.
True sportsmanship is defined by such moments.
The Barcelona Olympics of 1992 provided such a moment. Britain’s Derek Redmond had dreamed all his life of winning a gold medal in the 400-meter race. He was the favourite to win the event. His dream to win an Olympic medal was in his mind as the gun sounded in the semifinals. He was running the race of his life and could see the finish line as he rounded the turn into the backstretch. Suddenly, with less than 220 meters to go, he felt a sharp pain go up the back of his leg. He fell, face first, on to the track with a torn right hamstring.
As the medical attendants were approaching, Redmond fought to his feet. He set out hopping, in an attempt to finish the race. Suddenly, a huge man in a T-shirt came charging out of the stands, pushed aside security guards and ran to Redmond, embracing him. It was Jim Redmond, Derek’s dad. “You don’t have to do this,” he told his son.
“Yes, I do,” said Derek as the tears streamed down his face, adding, “I have come to finish the race, not just start it.”
“Well, then,” said Jim, “we’re going to finish this together.” And they did. Fighting off security men, the son’s head sometimes buried in his father’s shoulder, they stayed in Derek’s lane all the way to the end, as the 50, 000 strong crowd watched this in amazement, they rose with one accord to give them a standing ovation.
Derek did not win the gold, in fact, his effort was marked as a Did Not Finish (DNF) since he took help to complete the race. The world walked away with an incredible memory of a father who, when he saw his son in pain, came to him to help him finish the race.
The Olympics has preserved this moment as one of the most amazing in Olympics history and you can watch videos of this online.
Derek’s Dad passed away a few years ago.
Looking at this remarkable story, one is reminded that one is never truly alone when one’s Dad is around – the man who used to take care of our every need and who would stand by us in good times and in bad. We are not alone, ever, even when our Dads depart from earthly life as Derek’s Dad did and my Dad did too some time ago, because He is with us always. He is the wind beneath our wings that will help us cross the finish line, even when we are so tired that we cannot put one foot forward.
Faster, Higher, Stronger
This motto of the Olympics that was in fact coined by Catholic Dominican Priest and sports lover Henri Didon for a youth sports event. The founder of the Olympic movement Pierre De Coubertin so liked the motto that he asked Father Henri if he could use the motto, and since 1894, it is the official motto of the International Olympics Committee. In 2021, a small modification was proposed by the committee, the word “Together” was added after an en- dash. It is now Citius, Altius, Fortius – Communiter in Latin or, “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together” in English.
This motto originally coined by Fr Henri thus epitomizes the spirit of the Olympics and sportsmanship. It seems to me that it is also a parallel for our Christian spiritual life. We can go faster, stronger and higher in whatever we do, together with Him. St. Clare wrote to Princess Agnes of Prague about 800 centuries ago,” What you hold, you may always hold. What you do, may you always do and never abandon. But with swift pace, light step, unswerving feet, so that even your steps stir up no dust, go forward securely, joyfully and swiftly on the path of prudent happiness, believing nothing, agreeing with nothing which would dissuade you from this resolution….so that you may offer your vows to the Most High.”
Holy Father Pope Francis addressing Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, Archbishop of Paris on the occasion of the Olympic Games says: “ Sport is a universal language that transcends frontiers, languages, races, nationalities and religions; it has the capacity to unite people, to encourage dialogue and mutual acceptance; it stimulates the surpassing of oneself, forms the spirit of sacrifice, fosters loyalty in interpersonal relations; it invites people to recognize their own limits and the value of others. The Olympic Games, if they remain truly “games”, can therefore be an exceptional meeting place between peoples, even the most hostile. The five interlinked rings represent the spirit of fraternity that should characterize the Olympic event and sporting competition in general.
I therefore hope that the Paris Olympics will be an unmissable opportunity for all those who come from around the world to discover and appreciate each other, to break down prejudices, to foster esteem where there is contempt and mistrust, and friendship where there is hatred. The Olympic Games are, by their very nature, about peace, not war.”
Wonderful words from the Holy Father on how the Olympic Games can build bridges amongst us, so the whole world is united by peace.
I think the following verse gives the right perspective about God’s role in our lives, whatever race we undertake:
“With his feathers he will shelter you, and you will take refuge under his wings; his faithfulness serves as a protective shield” Ps 91:4.