I remember Dan Jansen finally winning the Olympic speedskating gold medal that had eluded him his whole career.  I remember Nancy Kerrigan overcoming injury and adversity to win a silver medal, just narrowly missing gold.  I remember the fascination with the unusual name of American woman skiing sensation Picabo Street.

I was 8 years old when the games of 17th Winter Olympiad began in Lillehammer, Norway.  At the time, I watched whatever my parents watched and they were watching the Olympics.  Besides, for as long as I can remember I have been a huge sports fan and the Olympics were just another sporting event for me to watch on TV.  That’s the first time I remember watching the Olympics.

Since then, I have come to realize the Olympics are not just another sporting event.  Yes, there are still athletes competing to win and be the best in their particular sport.  But there is something different about Olympic competition that separates it from professional and collegiate sports.  There is an innocence about them that is refreshing in this turmoil-laden era of modern sports.

The sports media will do story after story about the bad boys of sports – the athlete who refuses to play until he gets more money; or the athlete who is constantly getting ejected or suspended for breaking the rules.  Meanwhile, the good guys of sports – the athlete who is willing to take less money for the benefit of his team; or the athlete who practices hard everyday and always shows good sportsmanship – are always just a footnote at the bottom of the page.

The Olympics are different.  They represent the best of what sports has to offer.  “Citius.  Altius.  Fortius.”  It is the Olympic motto.  It is Latin for “Faster.  Higher.  Stonger.”  These three little words represent the traits that every Olympic athlete from around the world tries to embody.  The Olympics are about living up to that motto.  Money, fame and winning take a backseat.

With that said, the Olympics are not without their flaws.  Inevitably, there will be stories of controversial judging or officiating decisions.  Sometimes, athletes try to cheat.  But by the end of the two week event, there always seem to be more heartwarming stories than disheartening ones.

The uplifting story of American speedskater Dan Jansen is a perfect example.  His Olympic experience was marred by personal tragedy – his sister died of leukemia during the 1988 games in Calgary – and personal disappointment – he fell twice in 1988 and again failed to medal in the 1992 games in Albertville.
Jansen held multiple world records but he had never been able to win a medal in three Olympic appearances (1984, 1988, and 1992).  After slipping in his first race in 1994, he had one more chance in an event where he was not considered a favorite.  But on his eighth and final Olympic race, he won a gold medal and set a world record.