As I got home yesterday, I had some time to reflect on the last two and a half weeks. I could never manage to put everything into a single post, as I think I could fill a whole book with all the experiences and emotions we encountered.
Starting with the emotions, seeing athletes fulfill their lifelong dreams or sometimes getting them shattered in a matter of seconds touched me, as an athlete myself, deeply on an emotional level. I remember being heartbroken in the stands watching a US swimmer getting disqualified after she would have earned a silver medal, crying out of excitement when I walked into the Stade de France to watch an athletics event, and again having tears of joy in my eyes when two medal winners honored their parents on the stage of the USA House. Fitting into that context, In my first guest lecture with the multiple Olympic medalist Janet Evans, she talked about her favorite memories not being all the medals she won but when she was invited to carry the torch and hand it over to the legend Muhammed Ali. That was the first time I realized that the Olympics are so much more than only celebrating the best athletes in the world.
Moreover, all the following lectures were not any less inspiring or interesting. One of the most important messages I took from all of them is to continue working towards my goals, no matter how far away they seem or how bumpy the way might be. Furthermore, working in the sports industry might look easy on the outside, but to stay in business, long working hours and lots of determination are needed.
However, even with a busy schedule, some missed lunches, and little sleep, I would not want to miss any second of those days. I felt incredibly fulfilled every day being a tiny part of the Olympics and experiencing the spirit of the games in person. Even in our minimal free time, we all were eager to explore more of the city and find the best restaurants or bakeries in town. I still remember one comment I read on LinkedIn before the Games, which said, ‘Remember, sleep is overrated during the Games,’ and I could not agree more.
I will forever cherish all the memories and experiences of this trip and cannot wait to see where our journeys in life will lead us, maybe even back to the Olympics or as a guest speaker for a future George Washington class.
