Lessons from Rio

While the world is watching the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, it's a good time to share a couple valuable observations these Games reveal. Sports have always had the ability to teach and inspire. That's one reason people raise Hades when cuts to school funding slash the athletics program. Anyone who has played or coached knows there is no such thing as "just a game." It's so much more. The Olympics, therefore, the pinnacle of athletics, are a great capacity to provide us with words of wisdom. I'll share two.

Lesson One: Push Past Fear

Let's face it -- Brazil was not the ideal place to hold the Olympics. The Zika virus scared off athletes who would have been there otherwise. U.S. golfers Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson, for example, decided not to take the risk. Even the No. 1 golfer in the world, Jason Day, let Zika keep him away, saying, "You know, with what's going on with Brazil and the Zika virus, it's a small chance it could happen, and I just can't put my family through that, especially with the future children we're looking at having. My wife wants four kids."

But one must ask: What if swimmer Michael Phelps had decided the fear of Zika was greater than his opportunity to add to his treasure trove of Olympic medals? First, that fear would have robbed him of the five gold and one silver medal he won, which brought his otherworldly career total to 28: 23 gold, three silver and two bronze medals. Second, fear would have robbed the rest of us of watching such an amazing feat and end of a career marked with challenges and triumph.

And let's not forget Simone Manuel, who became the first black female swimmer to win an individual Olympic medal, as she tied Canadian Penny Oleksiak for gold in the 100-meter freestyle. In an emotional response to her victory, Manuel gave God the glory and shared how much it meant to her as an athlete, of course, but also as a pioneer. No doubt, others will look to her and say, "I can do that, too!"

Scores of stories like these are out there, none of which we would have heard or seen had athletes not decided the reward was worth the risk.

I fault no one who felt compelled to stay home. Zika is real, and so is fear of the virus. I can appreciate that abundance of caution. I just appreciate pushing past it more.

Lesson Two: Race Above Race

With all the racial division in the country right now, one thing that stands out to me is the camaraderie and oneness of Team USA. When those gymnasts or swimmers or runners step up to compete in their sport, they do so as one. It's not black folks over here and white folks over there. There's no Black Lives Matter versus All Lives Matter rhetoric. They're teammates, with one goal in mind: victory. And whether they meet that goal or fall short, they do it together. They hold hands with one another. They cheer on one another. And when they win the ultimate prize, they stand on that platform with one another. They mouth the words of the National Anthem, often with tears streaming down their faces, because together, regardless of race, they won THEIR race -- whatever the event -- on the largest stage in all of sports. That's almost enough to make a person stay right there in the Olympic Village and summon the rest of us to come join them. It's a shame that when these Olympians return home, they'll return to an increasingly heated situation, where race is being bandied about like a football, used to promote political agendas, the results of which are dangerous riots, destroyed property, lives lost and trust eroded. Wouldn't it be an appropriate "thank you" to our athletes, representing us so well in Brazil, if we would reciprocate and represent Team USA -- one team -- just as well right here in America?

Adrienne Ross is an author, speaker, columnist, editor, educator and Southeast Missourian editorial board member. Reach her at aross@semissourian.com.