There are few sporting events that relentlessly display
passion, euphoria, motivation, and even patriotism all in one. To measure yourself
against the greatest in the world is indescribable. The only thing that separates
each individual from the podium is talent and skill.
That’s what makes each Olympics so special.
I’m sure by now that you are all aware of the homerun
stories that have populated in London. From Kayla Harrison becoming the first
American ever to win gold in judo to Michael Phelps’ journey to 22 medals,
London’s ratings are easily surpassing Beijing marks right and left.
Rather than focusing primarily on the major sports during
these Summer Games, I use this time to learn and appreciate the less popular
sports like handball (which is really cool if I may add), table tennis and
water polo to name a few. There are over 30 sports being played in London. Why seclude
yourself to a few?
Furthermore, the downside of some of these milestone features
by the favored athletes is that it overshadows a bunch of riveting stories that
never get an ounce of spotlight.
My friend and fellow 2012 classmate Dave Everett passed along a very disheartening story
along to me that hasn’t necessarily appeared on this Games’ radar. Even I missed it.
Last week, Shin A Lam of South Korea was wrongfully robbed
of a chance to compete for gold. With one second left on the clock, Lam seemed to be well on her way to the fencing epee final match. All she had to do was
not be touched. Sounds like a guaranteed win right? Nope, actually not.
After the referee motioned to restart the match, the clock
never started which resulted in Britta Heidemann of Germany landing a touch to
win the bout. The Korean team attempted to dispute the evident screw-up, but their appeal
of the decision was denied.
Then to add injury to insult as she sat there on the piste — the
playing surface — baffled and hysterical, Lam was removed by security after
laying there for over a half hour in tears.
Lam still had a chance to compete for bronze. But after
still being miserably distraught, she was defeated by China’s Yujie Sun.
Instead of fencing for gold, Lam would leave medal-less.
But here’s the kicker. The timekeeper for the event was a
15-year-old kid. The world’s biggest international sporting venue has a
volunteer minor as timekeeper. Maybe a simpler task would have been apt. Then again, there are always clock issues that take place in sports regardless of the setting. How the situation is rectified is what counts.
Sports constantly goes through phases were the rules are
not bent to better the sport. Everything is not black and white. This is just
another case that can be added to the pile.
I hope the fencing and International Olympic committee learns
from this grave mistake.
Lam eventually
did earn silver in the women’s epee team competition, but the loss she suffered
to Heifemann will haunt her endlessly.
