The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics wrapped up in August, even though I am still catching up with the replays. What an event it was, I must say! The opening ceremony felt like an unforgettable disaster, leaving both spectators and athletes scratching their heads. The grand idea of hosting the opening ceremony along the River Seine was ambitious and sounded spectacular on paper. Imagine the world’s finest athletes cruising down the river on boats framed by the iconic Parisian skyline. But what sounded like a beautiful concept was, in reality, a nightmare.
What should have been a grand ceremony meant to represent the best of French culture felt disjointed and, at times, completely bizarre. A mishmash of modern dance, strange visual effects, and incoherent themes left the audience more confused than inspired. The intended tribute to Paris’s history and cultural heritage somehow got lost in translation, with many people, especially me, unsure of what we were even watching. The opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics will likely go down in history as a missed opportunity—a grand idea that was simply too complicated to pull off.
Despite the rocky start, the Paris 2024 Olympics managed to turn things around and became a successful event. It awarded 329 gold medals to athletes from over 50 different sports. The athletes themselves were the true stars of the show. New Olympic records were set in multiple sports, with track and field and swimming once again providing some of the most exciting and talked-about moments. Track and field alone accounted for 48 gold medals, while swimming saw 37 gold medalists. Behind all those shiny medals are stories of sheer grit and determination. Every gold medalist has had their fair share of struggles and years, if not decades, of training in the background, pushing through the rough days when it all felt impossible, just for that moment on the podium.
It's remarkable to consider how far we’ve come since the first modern Olympics in Athens in 1896. Back then, there were just 43 gold medals across nine sports, with track and field events like the 100-metre dash and long jump taking centre stage. Even further back, in the ancient Olympics, track and field was the only category. It’s hard to guess exactly how many champions were crowned in ancient Greece, but we know that sprinting, discus, and other basic events were central to the competition. Today, thanks to the efforts of the Olympic organisers and sports enthusiasts, we have a much broader representation, recognising over 300 gold medalists from a wide variety of sports.
Now imagine if we still judged athletes solely by their ability to run the 100m race. What about the swimmers? The cyclists? The gymnasts? They’d all be failures in the eyes of the ancient Olympics. We should not allow ourselves to be judged by one narrow measure or be boxed into a single frame. In the same way that the Olympics has grown to recognise more talents, we should also recognise that our strengths are unique.
Success is not one-size-fits-all. In life, anyone can be a gold medalist. Whether you’re a writer, journalist, poet, or content creator, the key is taking part in the right field where you can excel. Like those athletes in Paris who compete in events suited to their skills, we too must seek out our own sport—whatever form that may take.
This notion is critical in a world where comparison is rampant. Social media, in particular, can create an illusion where everyone seems to be excelling at their chosen pursuits. It’s easy to feel discouraged when you measure yourself against others, particularly those who appear to be thriving. But the truth is that everyone has their own journey, complete with unique challenges and milestones.
“Today is tough, tomorrow is tougher, and the day after tomorrow is beautiful. But the problem is most people give up by the end of tomorrow.” — Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba
So, here’s what the Olympics can teach you: (1) Find your sport. Every athlete has a different path to success. Some may sprint to their goals, while others may take a more measured approach. The key is to embrace your individuality and focus on what makes you unique. (2) Don’t force yourself to be someone else. Whether you’re aiming for gold in running, swimming, or writing, the key is to make sure you’re in the right lane. If you can only swim breaststroke, don’t force yourself into butterfly; if you are good at long distances, don’t stretch yourself in short sprints; and if you’re a leisure poet, don’t compare yourself to a professional writer.
Even in the right lane, the road to success will be packed with fierce competition and insurmountable obstacles. The stories of these Olympians serve as a powerful reminder of the human spirit and its capacity to overcome challenges. Many of them faced injuries, setbacks, and personal hurdles that would have deterred most people. Yet, they persevered, driven by their passion for the sport and the dream of standing atop the Olympic podium. For them, the true spirit of the Olympics lies not in the medals won but in the shared experience of striving for excellence in whatever form that may take.
Are you in your right lane?
Viva la France for trying to stay in the right lane.