Last weekend marked the close of the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina Italy. Thousands of athletes bid farewell to all the glory of the past two weeks and returned to normal life.
I have enjoyed watching many of these thrilling events. Competition and comradery are the key components to the Olympics. It’s inspiring to see athletes encourage each other to achieve the impossible.
It’s heartbreaking to see many of these young people miss out on their dream of an Olympic medal. I watched in horror, as Lindsay Vaughn took a tragic fall; one which will no doubt end her racing career.
There’s a journey behind every smiling face that waves at the crowd and cameras during the ceremonies. The grueling hours of training and practice, the frustration of working through injury, and the expectations of an entire country hoping for a first-place finish.
Megan Oldham is a Canadian freestyle skier who won a gold medal for Canada. While it’s all smiles for the camera, she will have to deal with the ongoing effects of a concussion following a ski crash just six weeks before the Olympics which left her in hospital. There was some concern as to whether she would be healthy enough to compete. In an interview just days after winning her medal, Megan acknowledged, “my memory isn’t clear, still dealing with headaches and other issues.”
Our society seems to forget these are real people who will have to deal with these head injuries over the long term. We’re dazzled with the win but ignorant of the price that’s paid to get there.
February also brought us the Superbowl. I was somewhat disinterested, as my favourite team never even made it to the playoffs! I did see part of the game, and watched the half time show, so I still consider myself a fan.
There are dozens, hundreds of young men that make up the N.F.L. On Superbowl Sunday, the focus will only be on the elite. We don’t see the anonymous faces in the locker room. We are not witnessing the hard hits taken during training practices, many of them to the head.
I was deeply saddened to hear the news this past January regarding the passing of Kevin Johnson, former NFL defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders. He was found dead at a homeless encampment in Los Angeles. He was 55. That is where he lived. He was part of the encampment, not some kind of visitor or spectator.
Some friends of Johnson have expressed concern that he may have been suffering from CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy. This is a brain disease caused by repeated head injuries. It is commonly associated with football players but affects many other athletes. A concussion may be treated as a temporary setback, but the long-term consequences can be devastating and life altering.
Presently, many long hours and much hard work are being invested into achieving a National Strategy on Brain Injury Act (Bill C-206). This very important legislation will acknowledge the impact of brain injury; it’s lifelong challenges for the victim and the caregivers.
Celebrations like the Olympics are always inspiring. We’re encouraged to challenge ourselves in whatever sport we enjoy. Hopefully, they also inspire us to be aware of important initiatives like Bill C-206.
Life is not a spectator sport. Let’s all do our part.
