It’s Olympic Season! Although this is an unusual Quadrennial (delayed by one year) meet due to the pandemic, it does not take away from the spirit of competition. The same desire to win persists. And the inspiring stories remain the same.
Art by: M.H.
Everybody knows the golden exploits of weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, the first Filipino gold medalist in Olympic history. But behind that triumph, only a few remember her as a young Olympian who failed in previous attempts for a medal. In 2008, she was at the bottom of the standings. In 2012, she did not complete her clean and jerk event. Her breakthrough was in 2016, and with it, came higher expectations. Those expectations became a reality in the recent Tokyo Olympics. Although the pandemic caused her to be stranded in Malaysia, this did not prevent her from pushing through and lifting a new Olympic record.
Carlo Paalam, our Olympic silver medalist in boxing, also has a great story. His mother left their family when he was six years old. A former scrap collector, he rose from obscurity and made us all proud by beating a former Olympic champion. He also overcame great odds by beating a Japanese fighter in his own turf. Although Tokyo is his first Olympic games, he showed that he was ready. After winning the silver medal, he recalled all those scraps he collected, and said that it symbolized all those metals he scavenged in his life. His life will now change as he is set to win millions in prize money for his performance.
What do these narratives tell us? Do they mirror our own struggles? Do we also feel victorious when someone close to us experiences a win? Do we also celebrate the success of others?
We associate ourselves with winners, and embrace their struggles. Their triumph becomes ours too. As caregivers in the health sector, no amount of remuneration can replace the joy of seeing a dying patient recover from illness. It is not the just sick who persevere, but also those in-charge of patient management. If money were the sole motivation, not a few doctors and nurses would tell you that they might have quit a long time ago.
What if there is no improvement in sight? Hospice patients face this dilemma. How does one persevere when there is no end to suffering?
The answer? Celebrate little victories. The pain-free moments. Or even just moments when pain is less. The ability to still maintain one’s quality of life despite the terminal illness. The presence of friends and loved ones.
There is also a significant contribution of teamwork in every triumph. Although weightlifting and boxing are individual sports, there are people behind Hidilyn and Carlo who made them who they are today. It was not just their trainers and coaches. Their families also provided great support. Even the whole community, the Filipino people, who cheered them on, played a role. The same is also true for taking care of the sick and dying. They must not be left alone. There must be a team of doctors, nurses, and caregivers who look after them. And their loved ones must not leave them behind.
We always have a choice whether to push through or just let life pass us by. It’s the choices we make that will ultimately determine our happiness. Perseverance pays off, both in sports, and in life.