Leap

29 feet, 2 ½ inches. 

I was just eight years old when American track and field sensation Bob Beamon shattered the Olympic long jump record. While some believed the "thin air" of Mexico City gave him an untoward edge, what Beamon accomplished that day was beyond what anyone could have imagined. His try exceeded the previous record by two FEET. On October 18, 1968, Bob Beamon became a legend.

Every time the Olympics roll around, I am reminded of the epic feats of athleticism I have witnessed over the years. The "Miracle on Ice." Nadia Comăneci's perfect 10. Mark Spitz sinking his opponents on the way to winning 7 races in just 8 days. Joan Benoit securing the first ever gold medal in the women's marathon. Usain Bolt sprinting his way to fame. Bruce Jenner's flag-draped jog after his 1976 decathlon win.

Memories of Kristi Yamaguchi, Carl Lewis, Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky, Michael Phelps, Chloe Kim, and even my hometown neighbor Aly Raisman still flash across my mind when I hear the Olympic soundtrack begin to play. That music brings a catch to my throat, a Pavlovian reaction to my own cache of recollections.

This past Sunday the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics came to a close. But I'll see you on July 14, 2028 when the Games come to our own home turf. Only 866 more days!

"Gold medals aren't really made of gold. They're made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts." — Dan Gable, 1972 Olympic Gold Medal Wrestler