By Sarah-Lynn Pauléus 

I don’t know if you are following the Olympics this year. Despite the pandemic, some sports disciplines are represented. Diving, swimming, running, soccer, gymnastics, and so on. Wonderful sports where several athletes practice for years to be able to hope to climb and represent with joy their country on the podium and to bring back a medal. For some, like young Penny Oleksiak, she is Canada’s most decorated Olympic medalist, while the road is steep for others.

A few days ago, diver Pamela Ware failed her dive which meant she was unable to advance to the final in her discipline. I can only imagine how she must have been feeling then. However, she showed perseverance, determination, and tenacity. The day after that failure, she showed up at the Olympic swimming pool to do the dive she had missed. I can assure you that after watching the video, she performed her last dive with flying colors. She was able to get up after the failure and we can only admire her again for that and we wish her a medal in the next games.

Thursday, August 05, in Tokyo, the triple Olympic medalist, Meaghan Benfeito missed her dive. She also missed her qualification for the final. Often we forget that they are humans like us. Despite difficult times or mistakes, let’s honor them. Since success rhymes with determination and perseverance, a few days before the end of the 2020 Olympics, I encourage all of our athletes to come back with their heads held high. No matter where you are, you are our perseverance medalists. Well done!

To get to the Olympics, athletes had to practice for years. They almost dedicated their lives to their sport in order to climb the podium. They are proud to represent their country. To all young people who want to take their sport to the next level, don’t give up when you face adversity. As the old saying goes, you conquer by dint of perseverance.

Action-Photo Credit: Antoine Saito – Diving Canada