A lifetime in the past, I used to be one thing of an athlete myself — once I was slightly woman I did slightly little bit of rhythmic gymnastics. Throughout the Athens 2004 Olympics, I bear in mind sitting in entrance of the TV in awe for countless hours to look at every efficiency of rhythmic gymnastics, with Russia’s two athletes successful each gold and silver medals.
To at the present time, I nonetheless get pleasure from very a lot watching all types of gymnastics — I did get pleasure from each second of Simone Biles’s performances, successful a bunch of medals in Paris 2024 Olympics. Nonetheless, what didn’t ring a bell then, however does now, is how frequent it’s to see wealthy and highly effective nations successful a ton of medals in such sports activities occasions. It’s actually stunning when an athlete from a not-so-well-off nation makes it to the medal podium. Suppose as an illustration of Algeria’s Imane Khelif in boxing, or Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem in javelin throwing, each successful gold medals of their sports activities in a relatively sudden flip of occasions.
Is that this all it takes to win an Olympic medal — being born in a rich and highly effective nation? Most undoubtedly not — it actually takes a whole lot of effort, dedication, ache, sacrificing, and…