I was so moved while watching the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Olympics brought back such strong emotions and memories that I felt overwhelmed, although it has been decades since I represented the USA in international basketball competition.
I am especially grateful for two things that have remained untouched in my memories over the decades: the underlying spirit of sports, and my respect for our flag.
Competing in athletics is not easy. The emotions athletes go through are immense and affect athletes differently. Some perform better than expected, while others fall apart under tough competition. Physical injuries can affect the outcome, but so can emotions. Some athletes — after years of hard work — lose or win by just hundredths of a second, or by a fraction of an inch.
Although there were many examples of athletes who performed in spectacular ways in the 2024 Olympics, I think the totality of the spirit of sports was best illustrated by the U.S. men’s gymnastics team. They won their first Olympic team medal since 2008, and while doing so, they exemplified the many trustworthy elements of sport: hard work, commitment, self-discipline, perseverance, excellence under pressure, pride in representing their country, love and support for each other, willingness to sacrifice for the good of the team, respect for the other competitors — and extreme joy over an earned accomplishment.
It took the men’s gymnastics team 16 years and individual sacrifices, to reach their goal. The wonder and magnitude of what they had done was seen in their faces and hugs — and touched so many watching them.
Stephen Nedoroscik, from Sarasota, competed in only one event, the pommel horse, but his performance was vital in helping his team win their bronze medal. Afterward, he said it was “the best moment of my life.”
What happened to Stephen and the gymnastic team was not a fluke or a lucky break. It was the result of years of hard work, a defined purpose, and a dedication to a goal. To be successful as an athlete, the nature of sport dictates that rules must be followed, that self-discipline has to be exerted, that you have to compete fairly, and that hard work, perseverance and sacrifice are part of the equation.
I was touched deeply by the instilled values Olympic athletes have, but dismayed that many of us have lost these values as citizens. Athletes can’t just show up and expect to be rewarded, nor can they obtain excellence and reach their objective without putting in the time and effort. Often, individuals have to give up their own desires and spot in the sun for the good of the team. This is also true for citizens when they want what is best for our country.
All of us should note the respect the Olympic athletes had for their opponents, congratulating the winners regardless of the pain they felt in their own loss. We should also note what a large role the American flag played in their competitive experience.
The 2024 Olympic athletes wrapped themselves in our flag with pride and jubilation — in sharp contrast to protestors who burn our flag because they do not respect the flag’s symbolic value.
Carrying the U.S. flag during athletic competition changes the way you look at your country. You no longer look at your country as being responsible for you — instead, you feel an immense responsibility toward your country.
The Olympics reminded me how fortunate we are as people of a free country — and how important a work ethic, teamwork and respect for others is in building a good and meaningful life as a free individual.
Albert Einstein said “Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value.” Somehow, the Olympics has managed to combine both of these goals — being a success and a person of value.
I hope our flag and the spirit of the Olympics will live forever.
Patsy Neal was a three time AAU All-American, represented the U. S. in the 1959 Pan American Games, and carried the American flag as captain of the U.S. team in the 1964 World Basketball Championship. She is an inductee in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. She lives in Matthews, N.C.
