- 13 Aug 08, 04:21 AM
International Broadcast Centre, Beijing
The perceived wisdom among coaches is that it takes seven years to train someone so they're physically and mentally ready for an Olympic Games.
So, when the sacrifice has been so great, especially when so many of the thousands of athletes here are everyday people with day jobs and bills to pay like the rest of us, it's no surprise to see so much emotion written on the faces of the winners.
But more often, and sometimes away from the cameras, the losers.
Maybe one of the reasons British diver Blake Aldridge sounded so bitter after their eighth place finish in the diving final, was this;
The dream was over, and while Tom Daley has the 2012 Games ahead of him, and probably the next one too, Blake now goes back to working in B&Q in Southampton..
Archer Alison Williamson is absolutely what the Olympics is all about - she gave up her job as a teacher in 2006 to focus on the Olympics - and earlier this week missed out on a medal in the team event by two points.
The difference between a nine and a seven. What's that - an inch? Maybe two?
She and her team were utterly distraught.
Maybe it's just because I have never been this close to an Olympics.
But there seems to have been a helluva lot of tears being shed here - and who can blame them.
And BBC reporters are not immune - there's just something really rather wonderful about this Olympic spirit that gets to all of us.
BBC reporter Lizzie Greenwood-Hughes says she has been in tears three times in the 5 Live commentary box in Hong Kong's equestrian events - make that four after the brilliant double bronze for new-girl Tina Cook and the team last night.
And when TV cameras cut back to Sharron Davies after Rebecca Adlington's sensational swim in the 400m freestyle where she touched out American Hoff on the wall, it's no wonder the former Olympic silver medallist was dabbing her watery eyes and sniffing gently.
It's not just that Adlington showed such guts - as did Nicole Cooke when she held of the pack in torrential rain in the women's road race - or that they're British, though that helps.
It's that you can see right in front of you what it means to be on the very top of the world, plastered all over their beaming, wide-eyed faces.
It's not something you can buy - though still people try in the form of drugs.
There's only one way to get there, hard work, never mind the talent you have.
It probably sounds naïve - we all know the Olympics is no longer this jamboree of amateur sport but a multi-million industry which this year controversially chose to come East to a one-party state.
But anyone who saw Michaela Breeze's efforts in the weightlifting can see what the Olympics still means.
She picked up a back injury a few weeks before the Games and really should not have been competing at all.
"There was no-one to replace me," said a devastated Breeze - who has single-handedly held up British female weightlifting for years, credit to her.
Clearly in agony with every lift, she grimaced in pain during the clean and jerk and actually could not stop herself letting out a stifled 'Ooow!" as the camera lens zoomed in on her.
She gave an interview with BBC TV afterwards: "They didn't even feel heavy, I can lift much heavier weights, but it was just the pain I was in. I put in so many years of training to get this far and I just did not want to pull out, It's an Olympics - the pain is irrelevant" she sobbed.
She tried to put a brave face on it -"I am just delighted to be here and celebrate the fact I got here," - but could tell she was having trouble believing that as the tears flowed.
She can rest assured; she did herself and her country proud just by taking the stage.
At least she got herself on the scoreboard, which is more than her fellow lifter Svetlana Tsarukaeva managed.
Breeze had no realistic chance of a medal in the 63kg class - but the Russian was favourite for gold.
Inexplicably however, she registered three no lifts in a row and failed to post a total, her last lift seeing the bar drop behind her head which must have been extremely painful as the weight would have been almost pulling her arms out of her shoulders.
She stomped off the stage, face twisting with self-anger and disbelief - and it was hard to tell whether she stumbled or it was deliberate - but she head-butted the wall with a loud 'smack'.
But I think the winner of my Crying Game awards, does have to go to a winner. Well second place anyway.
Stand up, or should I say fall down, Italian Francisco Francesco D'Aniello, who took silver in the final of the men's double trap in which Britain's Richard Faulds, gold medallist in Sydney, finished last.
The Italian sunk to his knees like a stone and began sobbing like a baby, shoulders heaving, gulping for air while emitting a kind of wailing squeal. It really was quite extraordinary and went on for several minutes - check it out for yourself.
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It was made all the more amusing when the commentator said with no trace of irony in explanation of Di Aniello's display: "You've got to remember, this is one of toughest sports of all, it is very much an endurance sport."
There was one other baby at the event - Faulds' 10-month old son Charlie who slept through the entire shooting match.
Indeed Faulds, terribly upset after failing to reach the final in Athens, was more sanguine this time around telling BBC reporter Eleanor Oldroyd (who took the photo below): "These are my gold medals," he said, hugging Charlie and his wife Tanya.
Cue another lump in throat..
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Comments
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An Olympic gold medal is a ticket to fame and fortune. All the hard work is done to get to the moment when gold medal is won, and the ensuing wealth and celebrity that follows.
Tears sometimes are merely the product of physical exhaustion, but other times they are the realisation of a life-changing moment, or lack of it.
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At the Sydney Olympics my wife and I attended a days competition at the Judo. An Austrian competitor was defeated quite early on and obviously much to his surprise and extreme disappointment. In between rounds we went out for a coffee and we passed the Austrian in the foyer, locked, silently, in an embrace with his girfriend/wife who was obviously trying to console him. When we returned 15 minutes, or so, later, they were still there, in the same spot, in the same silent embrace. Sometimes I guess people are beyond tears.
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I disagree levdavidovich
There is the obvious monetary gains to be had, but each and every one of the competitors would have dreamed about competeting for gold in the Olympics - the pinnacle of their careers.
The one's who are good enough to be considered a medal opportunity or even a certain gold would have made enough money from previous successes not to care about money. Look at Phelps for instance, he craves glory and is prepared to swim god knows how many heats and finals to be considered the greatest swimmer, and now greatest Olympian, of all time.
These guys have sacraficed their lives in pursuit of glory, when the realisation kicks in they've failed, the emotional build up from being so intense for X amount of time (sometimes years of practice) is released.
Not everyone is driven by money. Personally, i couldn't imagine anything better than standing there having won gold singing the national anthem.
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'These guys have sacraficed their lives in pursuit of glory, when the realisation kicks in they've failed, the emotional build up from being so intense for X amount of time (sometimes years of practice) is released.'
Quite right and it is the reaction of these 'true' athletes that typifies the Olympic spirit.
Unlike some of the 'professional' athletes that compete and have no reaction to being out of the games (other than the 'reasons' supplied by their Sport Psychologists), those who give up their livelihoods for the Olympic Dream are the true heroes and the tears that follow an exit or unexpected medal bear their soul.
Forget those who have the ability to spend all year at high altitude training camps and not worry about feeding their families, it is those who train for the Olympics alongside a 'normal' life that should be heralded...
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No question watching Michaela Breeze made me cry. It was the sheer guts and commitment that was shown that got to me. I know I would have walked away. She didnt. I admire her so much for that.
Michaela's personality shone through in those moments. At a time of what must have been great disappointment, her strength of character pushed her through. She will always be one of my memories of these Games, no matter who else wins medals.
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Michaela Breeze epitomised the Olympic spirit. It is not just the winning, it is the taking part. Yes winning is important to these athletes but they all know that there is only one winner per event. And luck will always play a part. Zara Phillips should have been at Beijing but for an injury to her horse and then Tina Cooke wouldn't have a medal. But I bet Zara Phillips was cheering her colleagues on same as everyone else. This is the Olympics, little pieces of magic pop up every where not always winning magic but always magic.
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Ms Breeze's efforts were sheer stupidity as she could have done herself serious damage and to finish with three no lifts shows the amateurish attitude we still have in many GB sports. The lady should have stayed at home, sorry but we should be sending winners and there was no way she was ever going to on the winners podium. Actually it does take talent to win an Olympic medal along with hard work (lots of it) self discipline, concentration, focus, determination and some luck.
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gald4me - I pity you.
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Totally agree with coxy0001. Not many of the gold medallists go on to a life of fame and fortune. Sure, those in high profile sports might do.
I heard something on the BBC the other week about most of the female GB competitors came back from the Athens game in debt.
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"there was no way she [Breeze] was ever going to on the winners podium."
Well if we can predict the winners so easily then we can just do away with the competition all together.
As pointed out the favourite in Breeze's category registered three no-lifts so you can never tell what would happen.
In any case she's clearly the best in the UK at her event, is a former Commonwealth gold medalist. If we leave people like that at home then we'd have a pretty small team.
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glad4me you are a complete and utter misery. Michaela Breeze may not have won, but that doesn't mean that she isn't a good lifter. I was almost in tears with her.
As far as I can recall she didn't have three no lifts anyway. She completed them all.
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"there was no way she [Breeze] was ever going to on the winners podium."
--------
So what ?
When someone has trained so hard for so long they deserve the choice for themselves in those circumstances.
Preventing her from going would do nothing but damage the sport in this country as it would reek of spite. It's not like it costs much for her to go, the money and effort had already been invested in the buildup, that cannot be clawed back.
I agree it was a stupid thing for her to choose to do as she could have damaged herself long term, however you and I have no right to make that decision for her.
This was her final chance to participate in an event like this and given the circumstances for her competing was enough in itself.
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I always remember Hicham El Guerrouj in 2000 failing to get the gold in the 1500m (?).
He was loaded, the most famous sportman in his country, would probably earn more in a golden league 'El Guerrouj takes his revenge' race. But the olympic title meant SO much to him and I'm postive it had no monetary value what so ever to him (he had 4 luxury cars as prizes in his garage and couldn't drive).
He sat about 5metres past the line after the race and sobbed!! People went over to him but he was totally unconsolable and really stands out to me as the Olympic spirit.
At Uni I ahad the picture of him in floods of tears right next to a picture of Ben Johnson in seoul with the word BETRAYAL or something below him. The 2 sides of sport
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/sydney/story/0,,375521,00.html
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This article is atrocious. Correct me if I'm misunderstanding the point of it but it appears Claire Stocks is trying to justify poor sportsmanship.
The words of Blake Aldridge where unacceptable, I for one am glad a man so lacking in grace lost, an good Olympian is more than just a fine athlete. Sure he may be annoyed but to share his feeling in public and to chastise a 14 year old boy is unforgivable.
Then you have Michaela Breeze, 'No one to replace me', dear lord she is an obvious talent but how about a modicum of humility darling!
I wasn't sure if you where chastising Svetlana Tsarukaeva or endorsing her actions but to headbutt the wall in public shows the lowest level of sportsmanship and should see her never allowed to compete again.
One of the great British sporting traits was/is the stoical way in which we accepted defeat and victory in a jubilant but magnanimous and controlled fashion.
I can slightly understand bitten back tears of joy but certainly not of defeat, these are the actions of a spoilt child who hasn't got it's way. This isn't confined to the Olympics, it's common to see footballers having little tantrums and wailing away. What kind of example does this set to children, role models these people are not.
Winning and losing with grace, that's what I expect from Olympians!!!
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'I can slightly understand bitten back tears of joy but certainly not of defeat, these are the actions of a spoilt child who hasn't got it's way'
You are joking aren't you Madmac? Can you not understand the physical and emotional investment into these people's dreams? The emotions shown before, during and after an event are one of the things that define great sport.
Some British examples: Kelly Holmes' look of surprise/elation as she crossed the line for her two golds in Athens; Derek Redmond pulling a hamstring, I forget which games, and being so determined to finish what he knew would be his last ever competetive race, unconsolable and in floods of tears, being helped limping over the line by his father; Mathew Pinsents tears of joy upon receiving his gold medal.
Countless other examples out there, and if it doesn't move you, you're missing a bit part of the sporting package.
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Bet that Hungarian who dislocated his elbow while lifting 148kg did some crying. Scary stuff.
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Re Derek Redmond:
"...he seemed to be in good form heading into the Olympics in Barcelona. He posted the fastest time of the first round, and went on to win his quarter-final. In the semi-final, Redmond started well, but in the back straight about 250 metres from the finish, his hamstring snapped. He hobbled to a halt, and then fell to the ground in pain. Stretcher bearers made their way over to him, but Redmond decided he wanted to finish the race. He began to hobble along the track, with pain etched upon his face. He was soon joined on the track by his father, Jim Redmond, who barged past security and on to the track to get to his son. Jim and Derek completed the lap of the track together, with Derek leaning on his father's shoulder for support. As they crossed the finish line, the 65,000 crowd rose to give Derek a standing ovation. However as his father had helped him finish, Derek was officially disqualified and Olympic records state that he "Did Not Finish" the race. But in the public's perception, he had finished and done so heroically."
The above is shamelessly copied and posted from his Wikipedia page which may break some rule, if so, sorry!
I remember watching that 400m semi and just sobbing at what happened.
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On a lighter note- Haile Gebrselassie. Athens 10,000m final. The great man had suffered a hamstring injury a few weeks before the games and but for pressure from his country and the fact it was the Olympics would not have competed. The race itself was about the Ethiopians and anyone who could live with them. About 600m from the finish and Bekele and Sihine, realising they were pulling ahead of big G slowed the race down to bring him back into it, thus putting their own medal chances at risk. They turned to see how he was doing, and Gebrselassis waved them on. They duly won Gold and Silver respectively and Gebrselassie finished fifth.
A glorious sporting moment and a bit of a choker-a priviledge to witness it.
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glad4me, that's a peculiarly British rhetorical form isn't it? The expression 'sorry' followed by 'I'm now about to tell you your business'. It's the reason why the 1970s were so miserable in this country, among other things. I'm sure Michaela Breeze knows what's appropriate in her own sport and life.
And she's currently my hero, not for the tears, I'd rather the camera was switched off, I don't find it entertaining, but because she persevered in an unfashionable sport, headed for her goal ignoring the haters and the pain, and finally got recognition for her lonely and under-reported efforts.
As for you MadMac, the reason she made the observation that there was no-one to replace her, is that there wasn't; the clear implication being that if there had been someone, she'd have stepped aside and given them a chance.
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GLAD4ME
YOU ARE A WUM
Michaela trained bloody hard for the olympics shes the commonwealth champion you idiot
AND SHE HAPPENS TO BE A GOOD PERSON.
GOD PEOPLE LIKE YOU FRUSTRATE ME.
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They've shown the Derk Redmond incident a number of times here in the USA recently as part of the adverts for the Olympics. It's as touching now as it was then. Derek, and his dad, are true Olympic icons. It's not just about winning!
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Ms Breeze was the only weightlifter to compete fro GB and thats something to be hugely proud of whether she won or not. She took part, and even with a back injury she showed guts and lifted.
I hope that she comes back stronger after her recovery!
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It appears the BBC is being careful or determined to keep Sharon Davies out of the sight of cameras. Is this because of her..ahem..previous outing?
We hear her voice doing interviews and sometimes, we are treated to a tight close-up.
What a pity, and it's 30 degrees in the shade, there.
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Hi, currently trying to win my own Gold Medal for the most number of blogs appearing on the BBC website simultaneously. Here I go...
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