Believe in Who You Are

There are more losers than there are winners in the Olympics. Of the 10,500 athletes from 205 nations, should there be no ties for first place a total of 300 gold medals will be awarded in the 2012 London Olympics. While the winners celebrate their accomplishments, the losers withdraw in the shadows.

Beijing Olympics gold medalist Valerie Adams took her silver finish in London with a heavy heart, saying that she let down her country, New Zealand.(Update: On 13 August, the OIC awarded gold to Adams as the original winner was found positive with drugs - MBL) Another gold hopeful, Nick Willis was at a loss of words on failing to even settle for a bronze in 1500 meters race.

One loser who stood out was 2004 gold medalist hurdler Liu Xiang. Xiang who was a leading gold medal contender in the London Olympics, failed to finish the race as he fell over the first hurdle in the 110 meters event. Even though injured, he hopped until the finish line on one foot, after kissing the last hurdle. Hungary’s Balazs Baji held Xiang in one arm, while at the same time raised the fallen champion’s hand aloft with the other. Baji said, “I respect him. I like him. It must be really bad for him. I’m really sorry. I didn’t say anything. I just couldn’t say anything.” Aries Merritt, world No 1, said: 'It's just a tragedy for that to happen to one of the best hurdlers of all time.’

But here is the clincher. Xiang suffered the same fate before his countrymen in the Beijing Olympics when due to a weakened Achilles he was eliminated from the race. Defying the odds, the hurdler recovered from the 2008 debacle by winning silver in the 2011 World Championships in Daegu.

The 80,000 strong crowd in the London stadium cheered Xiang as he was helped off the track and turned over to medical personnel. The ordeal of Xing caused a Chinese TV commentator to weep on-air as most of the people in China called Xiang a true Olympic hero.

For the 10,200 athletes who didn’t make it to the champion’s podium, I have written a song, “Believe”. You are not losers, rather you are stars in your own right, for so long as you believed in yourself, and gave your very best in the heat of the competition.

BELIEVE

Each one has a gift
Each one has a reason
To be living In this world

We are meant to give
We are born to follow
The path of our dreams

Refrain:
Believe in who you are
Believe in what you do
Give the best of what you are
You can go, yes you can go far
You can be a star

(Repeat All)
…Believe

(P.S. Should you want to listen to the song, please email: librelaw@yahoo.com and I shall personally send you an exclusive copy of a live recording. God bless.)