The Olympic Spirit

Though, it was not a run for 41 km Marathon, but for this effort even Pheidippides would have been proud of. For the grit which was shown by J J Shobha during the heptathlon event is the true essence of the Olympics i.e. the victory of human spirit of over everything else, against all odds.

Despite of the injury during javelin throw event and being taken away on a stretcher, to the astonishment of everyone else on the ground, she turned up for the 800 m distance race. With the strapped left knee, she moved from the last ( 8th) to the 3rd position in the race, only to collapse again. She was helped to stretcher again by her fellow, shell-shocked athletes. The 75000 strong crowd cheered her on through out the race, and her competitors had only words of praise for her courage and grit.

All those cheaters and dopers, who have brought the shame and insult to their respective countries, must be forced to watch the video of this event for a whole day. Not only them, this Herculean effort can inspire any one. Our Cricketers can learn a lesson or two on how to run. Those Hockey guys may realize that you don't just wait for the ball to come. One has to fetch it.

And yes, Malleshwari might contemplate of passing Bronze medal to her. She no longer deserves it.