Counting down the Olympics

[mathking]

Since Jane brought up the question of finding graciousness, I think that Tyson Gay's comments after getting 5th in the 100 m semi-final were quite gracious. Particularly when you consider the circumstances. He was frank about feeling devastated, but offered no excuses or whining. He offered his congratulations to those who qualified on. When you spend literally years focused on one single event, disappointment can be profound. He showed how to handle it with dignity. I also saw a volleyball match in which one of the Chinese men turned to the referee after a ball had been ruled out and gestured that he had touched the ball and it should be a point for the other team. Or one of the American women gymnasts, who would not respond to baiting to try to get her to say one of the Chinese gymnasts was under age, saying "Well, I don't look like I'm 20." Or watching the women's marathon and seeing a runner turn to a competitor from another country (both of them a couple minutes off the lead) and yell at her not to drop back. The second women, who had been slowing down, sped back up and ended up finishing a little ahead of the first woman. Or all the silver medalists turning to smile and congratulate the gold medal winners.

I mention this because of some of the recent threads about robotics being a sport. As FIRST grows it becomes more sports spectacle like. So let's try to remember the good examples we see here in the Olympics, since they are so accessible now.