As a young girl, I remember watching Michelle Kwan amongst the weird Tanya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan craziness. And I rooted for her, us being about the same age and me thinking Nancy K's voice was more annoying than anything in the world. Then, who could forget when that little puff bang Tara Lipinski beat her in the Olympics in 98? Have to admit, I didn't really watch the 2002 games, beings I was in college and probably drunk. But I was pumped when I heard she was still around. Something for me to watch amongst all this Olympics who-ha that I don't really care about. Needless to say, I was very disappointed when she stepped down and like one of our fellow commenters, cried like a baby when the Kwan made her announcement. What is it about the Olympics and the featured stories about their heartache and struggle to the top that makes us so sentimental and weepy? Could someone make my struggle as a kid growing up in small-town Montana into a nice weepy story for tv news? Well, a girl can dream can't she? Maybe when I'm rich I'll pay someone to create such a masterpiece and force all of you to watch it.Anyway, back to the original point of this post--much love to the Kwan. Sad we won't be watching you compete this time around.
1 comment:
I realize that I forgot to sign my comment re Kwan. Plus, I feel I must explain my emotions. You see, as a young, boobless and hipless girl, I had visions of Olympic greatness. I started skating at seven and excelled in competition until the dreaded age of 14 when I lost all self-esteem and I had basically flatlined in my progression. I realized the drain it was putting on my family and quit. It makes me sad to this day to think about when I came to this realization. I moved on and rarely looked back.
Forward 17 years to Sunday. Me sitting on the couch watching the TV when they show THE MOST gracious and professional women's skater to ever exist (ps Dorthy Hammell is a Bitch who told my ten-year-old self I was waisting her ice time when I came up to her to tell her how great she was) coming to the edge of the ice to talk to her coach after a fall and ever so slightly biting her lip and heaving her chest in a realization of grief that her dreams of Olympic gold were offically over.
In a small and not even close way, I knew her pain and became overwhelmed with tears.
I just want to reiterate that Michelle Kwan is the greatest skater to ever compete regardless of the unexplainable fluke that she never won Olympic gold.
I will stop crying now.
Kalilaw
Post a Comment