Extra: What We Can All Learn from The Quad God's Tumble
Ilya Malinin, the American figure skater known as “The Quad God” for his ability to incorporate quadruple jumps into his routines, had an especially unlucky Friday the 13th. Some might even call it disastrous. The 21-year-old fell twice during his final skate and finished eighth in the free skate at the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.
While I am far from a rabid sports fan, I was inspired by Malinin—his vibe, artistry, and yes, his athleticism. When I started watching him skate, I had no idea what lay ahead.
Back in the day, “ABC’s Wide World of Sports” aired every Saturday afternoon. Its dramatic intro promised to showcase “the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat.” It is hard to imagine a more agonizing defeat than the one Malinin suffered yesterday. He struggled to articulate his feelings amid the media’s questions, but when pressed, he admitted, “I blew it.”
But that’s not the whole story. After his stunning defeat, Malinin picked himself up and went to hug and congratulate Mikhail Shaidorov, the surprise gold medalist from Kazakhstan.
Malinin’s story is far from over. No single event defines anyone’s life, let alone that of someone so young. But if anything, the young man’s impressive moral compass, marked by sportsmanship and generosity, would seem to set him up for lifelong success.
But that’s not the whole story. After his stunning defeat, Malinin picked himself up and went to hug and congratulate Mikhail Shaidorov, the surprise gold medalist from Kazakhstan.
We could all learn from Malinin’s master class in good sportsmanship, grace, and humility. If he were capable of learning or self-reflection, the then-74-year-old Narcissist in Chief could have benefited from this lesson after his 2020 electoral defeat. Instead, he fomented an insurrection and an assault on democracy.
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Why does everything have to become political? We can take much pride and praise in this young man without any comment towards the President. It was sad to see a few of the USA athletes also commenting on their political thoughts and I would say if you won’t go over to a foreign country and represent your country with pride, then maybe just stay home.
ReplyDeleteMy comments about the current occupant of the White House were characterological, not political. As for the athletes speaking out against the current regime, they are patriots who do not hide behind anonymity (as you do). If you are looking for apolitical commentary or commentary that supports the current administration, you’d best look elsewhere.
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