Not All That Glitters Is a Gold Medal

What the Paris Olympics can teach us about excellence, respect, and friendship

By Alison Brown, Associate Editor

Look. I am not an athlete. Like many Dutch parents of the ’90s trying to get their tykes into the much-revered sport, my parents enrolled me in soccer.

It was a disaster. While my three siblings excelled in the skills and competition of soccer in the summer, I just counted down the minutes until halftime so I could have some orange slices. As a dreamy kid with my head perpetually in the clouds (is it any wonder I became a writer?), I’d spend my time on the field picking flowers and making up stories and songs while the ball would whizz past me—much to the irritation of my coaches, teammates, and soccer parents yelling from their lawn chairs on the sidelines.

Now, as an adult recovering from the trauma of grade school gym class, I’m a much better cheerleader than an athlete, and I make up for my lack of sports knowledge with enthusiasm (“Yay Team! Go sports! Win the points!” is an oft-shouted refrain, as well as my personal favourite: “I just hope both teams have fun!”)

But let me tell you . . . this year’s Olympics hit different. Maybe it’s the romantic location of Paris, or the omnipresence of Snoop Dogg, or all of the heartwarming stories and characters coming out of the games, but I was all over the Olympics. There’s nothing quite like watching the best athletes in the world doing their thing to make you marvel at the strength of the human body, the resiliency of the human spirit, and what’s possible with hard work, determination, and natural skill.

With an eight-year-old gymnast in the house, the gymnastics events have been watched the most intensely in our household. I’ve been inspired by the sheer athletic perfection of the GOAT, Simone Biles, and the sportsmanship and camaraderie of the competing athletes.

When Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade ousted Biles from winning gold in the floor final, Biles and teammate Jordan Chiles bowed to her on the podium, creating one of the most viral images from the Olympics. Rather than let bitterness or disappointment overtake them, Biles and Chiles recognized that it was Andrade’s time to shine, and they didn’t hesitate to celebrate her success on the most public of stages.

What a moment of dignity, grace, and strength of character. Sometimes, we work our tails off and we don’t get the gold. We don’t get the recognition, or the applause, or the pat on the back and the “job well done.” Sometimes, it’s someone else’s time to shine.

In an individualistic, dog-eat-dog society, we can often feel like we’re in constant competition with others, especially in the workplace.

There’s nothing wrong with doing your best, but when we’re always striving to prove ourselves and receive the acclaim, we can step on others to get ahead. And when someone else gets the spotlight, we can let our resentment get the better of us rather than recognize their achievement.

Another inspiring moment from the Olympics was when Canadian gymnast Ellie Black was seen consoling French gymnast Melanie de Jesus dos Santos after the French team had a disappointing performance and failed to qualify for the final. Despite being on competing teams, Black was seen tenderly holding the other gymnast’s face and giving her a big sister pep talk. 

“I just wanted to remind her that it’s not always about results,” Black said. “It’s who she is […] just reminding her that she is enough and whether you have a perfect day or not, the sun will shine and it will come back out again.”

Sometimes, someone else gets a victory, so we help them celebrate their success. We fix each others’ crowns. Sometimes, a coworker will have a bad day, so we hold space for them, remind them that they are more than their jobs, and the sun will shine on them again. 

Not all that glitters is a gold medal. Sometimes, it’s the people around us who shine just as bright.