The Olympics have finally started, all the hype and talk about it is here and so far they are beyond my expectations.
Usually at this point in the summer I am yelling at my kids to turn off the television, but not for these two weeks. This is the one time during the year that I will allow the TV to be on all day long.
In fact, I’ll be the one turning it on, and searching the guides for any sport and any competitor. This is the one time every four years we get to watch and learn about all the different sports we never get to see. 
I am amazed by all people from all over the world who will come together to compete. These athletes have been training for years, or their whole lives. They put everything else in their life aside and train for the olympics once every four years.
I am in awe of these athletes. I have so much respect for them and their families, I cheer for all of them. I get tears in my eyes when someone falls, or gets hurt. I get tears when they stand on that podium and their national anthem is playing. My kids look at me like I’m nuts, “Mom, are you crying?”
I explain to them that I am so proud of these athletes, for everything they stand for. Just knowing how much work they put into it and how far they have come. All the blood, sweat and tears they have put into their sport. All the dinners they missed with their families, or school events or a birthday parties. Many had to move out of state to train with the best coaches or facilities, separated from their family.
All their hard work and dedication comes down to these two weeks. Everything they have worked so hard for will be put to the test, right here, right now. In another country in front of millions of people to see… no pressure!
These athletes are all winners in my book, they are the best in the world. I love that my kids love to watch them as much as I do. I love that we can all sit around the TV in our family room with our eyes glued to a tennis match, or rowing, or the four hour bike race that is down to the last 2 kilometers. Four hours on a bike racing? That would only happen during the Olympics! The most we ride is thirty minutes, and we usually break halfway through for a slush!
My kids love watching and learning about all these different sports. There really is more to life than baseball, softball, basketball or volleyball. (I can’t believe I will admit that.)
The realization there are so many more options in the world of sports is humbling as an athlete, a coach and parent. It makes me realize that diversity in sports is human, universal and global.
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