By Sharing, We Succeed
Dear Church,
2020 Tokyo Olympics will be remembered as the pandemic Olympics. With the threat of typhoons and flooding looming in the summer months in Japan, the athletes had to endure some of the most intense heatwaves as they competed for the coveted medals. Just being in the Olympics was a victory, and they all deserve our applause.
There were many shining moments at the Tokyo Olympics. For example, the Philippines won the first gold medal ever when Hidilyn Diaz lifted an overall lift of 224 kilograms in the women's 55-kilogram weightlifting competition. What about the penalty shoot-out in the women's soccer final and Canada's first gold medal in Olympic soccer?
These were all exhilarating moments, but for me, another moment has a special place in my heart -- the final, deciding moment for the men's high jump competition. Italy's Gianmarco Tamberi and Qatar's Mutaz-Essa Barshim both cleared 2.37 meters. Their next challenge was 2.39 meters, but both failed three chances given to them. The only way to determine the winner was a jump-off, each taking turns until a clear winner emerged. Barshim asked the official, '’Can we have two golds?” The official said it was possible if the two agreed. No further words were necessary because they knew they were sharing the gold medal. Tamberi and Barshim are close friends who work out together. They are also each other's fiercest rivals in all their international meets. They had one common enemy: injuries. Now that their time was ticking towards retirement sharing the gold medal was, perhaps, the best way to end their Olympic careers.
The gold medal is often decided by a fraction of a second or an inch in the Olympics. Every athlete in the Olympics has an intense desire to compete and win the gold medal. It means only one person can win. What Tamberi and Barshim have shown to the world is inspiring: we can succeed together. Yes, we can win together by learning to share. To me, that was the most inspiring and hope-raising moment in the Olympics.
May the LORD bless you and keep you strong.
Pastor Minho Song
