Scott video taping Kristina waiting for the flame
WITH GLOWING HEARTS
The reality of preparing for the Olympics means missing some of the best moments leading into the Games. In fact, I’ve only been to one opening ceremony in my Olympic life. That life spans four rounds, thus far. What I’ve always done, however, is live moments like these through the people experiencing them.
Sometimes it means connecting to the pride and enthusiasm of the Team marching in Canada’s colors, other times it involves sitting on the edge of my seat as teammates fight through pain on bike, skates, skis or foot to achieve performances of a lifetime, and other times it’s like yesterday morning when my husband Peter went to watch my teammate Kristina Groves run her 400m with the Olympic flame.
I wanted to go but it was too early and training, twice that day, was just too hard. I needed as much sleep as I could get. The evening prior, I watched some of the torch relay live on the internet. I was moved by the sheer and utter happiness each torchbearer exuded. Before, during, and after the flame passed through their grasp, the expressions on each torchbearers face radiated happiness. Such unequivocal joy is rare in our world and that is perhaps why this event it so special.
Peter left early to head out to the streets where Kristina was to do her part. He and Scott, Kristina’s boyfriend, and some other friends and family waited with her in the early morning darkness. In the cold winter air, on frozen sidewalks, people gathered and waited in anticipation. Before she received the flame, Peter told me the official in charge that day told her ‘there are millions of people around the world watching you. Now is your time!’ or something of that nature. Peter had to chuckle, knowing clearly Kristina’s moment was still to come, time and again, at the Games. Still, he said he had never seen her so happy. She was like a kid out there, sprinting with the torch (by Peter’s estimate, she ran faster than any other in the history of torch runs, not out of competitiveness, but out of excitement and joy) for that short stint in that quiet Calgary neighborhood.
Hoots and hollers filled the morning air, and soon enough it was over, passed on to the next excited soul lucky enough to have applied and been accepted to be a part of the journey.
As I woke up, Peter returned and shared the experience. He told me never in his life had he witnessed such joy. He’d never seen this kind of emotion run through people. Coming from a guy who has lived a rich and diverse life, these were powerful words. What he liked about the torch run is that there were no strings attached. There was no anxiety, no pressure, no winners and no losers. Instead, it was a string of people, trotting along with an ancient flame high above their head, sharing the energy and the pride felt inside with those along the way.
As I rode into the oval yesterday morning a few hours later the procession was leaving the University campus. I stopped my bike and watched it pass. I had tears in my eyes knowing it was making it’s way west.
Slowly and methodically, it will travel to the final destination. Slowly and methodically, I move myself though the training and racing that brings me to that same place. I felt happy for Kristina just as I feel happy for all the people that get to feel and share this absolute joy. I feel happy for Canada.
The energy of the Olympic flame in the city I train in makes me dream about the sensation of walking into the stadium for Canada. This is one opening ceremony I am not going to miss. I do believe all of the athletes on that special day will feel what it’s like to have millions of people inside; what it’s like to have all Canadians inside of us, urging us forward and giving us strength.
Another version of pure and absolute joy.
