Cheering as one

The flame has been extinguished in Tokyo, bringing the end to an Olympic Games unlike any before it.
Though some will remember this summer Olympics as much for the pandemic backdrop as the competitions themselves, there was much to celebrate for Americans tuning in to Tokyo. As always, it was a refreshing glimpse of athletic competition on a global scale, where participants play for their national colors instead of a winner’s paycheck.
We saw that pride of country play out again and again by tape delay from Tokyo, with participants wearing emotions on their sleeves regardless of how they finished. The USA logo on their chest was a powerful motivator, especially for those who found themselves on the medal stand.
A highlight for Nebraskans was watching three current or former Lady Huskers lead their team to the first gold medal ever for US women’s volleyball. Jordan Larson captained the team, playing along side Kelsey Robinson and Justine Wong-Orantes. There was plenty of red in their red, white and blue uniforms, giving Husker fans a little extra skin in the game.
These Games are about so much more than “winning” and “losing,” and always have been, though of course the headlines focus on the final score. For the record, Team USA came home with more golds (39) and more total medals (113) than any other nation. That was icing on the cake, to be sure.
But if you watched the eyes closely, there was a sense of accomplishment for all who competed, especially given the pandemic drama that initially pushed the Games back a year and then changed the vibe by eliminating fans and creating all sorts of protocol hurdles. It’s hard to imagine the sacrifices required to peak in your chosen sport at the right time for any Olympics, especially in these unprecedented times. The pressure to put it all together, a year later, with the world spotlight shining brightly on you, has to be unlike anything else in sports.
History may record this as the Pandemic Olympics, but there should be no asterisk for the men and women who competed on their country’s behalf. Team USA gave us a reason to cheer as one, which in this day and age is in and of itself cause for celebration.
-- Kurt Johnson