Courage unnoticed
When I was a kid, we had a chapter in our English text book at school (I do not remember what standard/grade). It narrated the extraordinary courage shown by a discuss thrower named Al Oerter. At the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, Al Oerter had dislocated a cervical vertebra and torn cartilage in his lower rib cage. He was ordered by doctors to stop training six days before the competition. In the qualifying round, he cast off his neck brace, ignored the pain that crippled his form, and hurled an Olympic Record 60.54. Then he came from behind in the final for an unmatched third gold, saying, “These are the Olympics. You die for them.”
I was amazed that anyone could do such a thing… ‘coz frankly speaking I used to bawl out loudly everytime I scraped my knee on the playground. Al Oerter’s statement seemed to be the answer to my amazement.
I don’t know how many of you know the rare grit and spirit shown by the Indian heptathlete J J Shobha. And if you don’t… I have the media to blame for it!!
As you can see from Monday’s (Mumbai) edition of the dishrag, Michael Phelps gets an obscene amount of footage on the front page of a national daily while one of India’s two brightest spots at Athens (thus far!) this year has been relegated to a measly inset column!!
J J Shobha’s effort is what Olympic legends are made of! When I heard about her exploits, the first thing that came into my mind was that chapter in the text book and Al Oerter. I thought… kids would learn about the feat of this virtually unknown Indian athlete who knew the odds were stacked impossibly against her and yet she competed and having competed, found reserves of strength, courage and ability that one finds when faced with extreme adversity. I thought the Indian media, long deprived of sports heroes, would hail this girl as the hero and celebrate her achievement with joy!
But I guess that was asking for too much!!
7 comments
Yes, I’ve noticed how the big name athletes tend to hog the headlines in the newspapers. It happens over here as well.
im with you.. i used to be one, rather am still one who bawls his heart out when she thinks she has scraped her knee on the playground!
the print media may have ms.shobha’s grit short shrift, but the news channels did hail her achievement.
Hi I’m here for the first time (bloghopping from somewhere not sure where!!), went through your writing.
I like. :-))
Yes Sameer I remember that lesson in English. I think that it was in the 6th or 7th Std. That was a great read talking about Al Oerter and Dorando Pietri.
JJ Shobha tried her best–too bad she did not come out with any medal. As for the others, they should drown themselves in “chullu-bhar paani” as said in Hindi. I don’t understand how the Indian govt. sends a contingent of 74 ppl when there are only a handful of performers.
Khushee >> Yup… it happens all the time. But the problem here is something else altogether. On one hand, the media tries to portray that Indians don’t care for any sports other than cricket… and on the other hand… when they get a chance, they do not use it to publicize great achievements by Indian players… except cricket of course!
Hima >> She thinks she has scraped her knee?? … so is it all in the mind?? :-P
Wings >> (or shud I call you wonderbug?! :-P) Welcome to my humble online abode. Hoping this isn’t the only time you’re here! :-)
Strongbow >> Oh yes… I was wondering who the other athlete featured in that chapter was!! Pietri!! Now I remember! You’re right of course… it’s bewildering to know that India sends a huge contingent when only a few are anywhere near world-class!! … as one of Govinda’s song goes… It happens only in India! ;-)
Hehehe I’m Wings.