July 20, 2012 is a date that will forever be engraved in our hearts and minds. Late that evening in Aurora, Colorado a young man went on a shooting rampage in a movie theater, killing a dozen people, injuring so many more.
Thousand of miles away a young woman by the name of Missy Franklin was in London, England preparing for the 2012 Olympics. Franklin, 17 years old, attends high school in Aurora. When news broke about the massacre, Franklin’s thoughts were fixated on her hometown.
Who can blame her? What should have been the most incredible two weeks of her life was overshadowed, for a moment, by tragedy. Colorado has had its fair share of disaster over the last two months, beginning with wildfires that spread across the state.
In the midst of these tragedies, the excitement of the Olympics gives Americans a reprieve. But hasn’t it always been this way? Not just for Americans, but for the entire world. There is something unifying about sports; something that intrinsically bonds humanity. For a little while, nations put aside any civil unrest and cheer on their country’s best athletes.
Franklin’s hometown was given more than just someone to cheer for on the world stage. Every time Franklin jumped into the pool, Aurora natives were doused with the tenacity of someone who wanted to give hope to their hurting town.
So what makes sports so special? What gives them the power to heal, the power to unify?
We’ve seen this before. From the calamity of 9/11 to the tsunami in Japan and the earthquake in Haiti, nations have used sports to raise money and awareness, of social issues, natural disasters, violence and injustice. In America, we have seen college and professional teams—even individuals—play their best games after a disaster. It is as if athletes need to prove that no amount of negativity, no misfortune and no catastrophe can stop them from giving their all.
Franklin is no different. Her three medals thus far have brought an immense amount of pride and joy, a much-needed distraction from the horrific events of July 20. In just 11 days, a teenager has become the face of a town, a household name, an Olympic medalist and a giver of hope.
Photo Credit: Rob Schumacher/USA TODAY Sports
12 Comments
So very true! I learned of Franklin attending high school in Aurora when she received her first medal and I was beyond thrilled that the town has this local hero to focus on during such a difficult time. Still can’t believe she’s only 17. She’s doing an amazing job!
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts! We are proud of our Olympic heroes and heroines. They not only inspire us to move beyond tragedy, but also to strive for our individual personal goals.
Thanks for reading and commenting! I get chills watching the Olympics. I really wish I could have interviewed Missy Franklin – she has such an amazing presence and personality. I give her major props for using the Olympics to shout out her hometown and dedicate what she is doing to them.
Great article! Didn’t know that Missy Franklin was from Aurora! Talk about triumph over tragedy! Very motivational.
Scott,
Thanks for the response! Her story truly is one of triumph over tragedy. If you’ve seen her interviews after her great success, you can see that she is full of life, loves her family and hometown and has a really good head on her shoulders… not to mention she hasn’t let go of the things most teenagers love, like being a huge Justin Beiber fan LOL.
This was a beautiful article. I had no idea that Missy was from Colorado. I do agree that the Olympics and sports in general allow communities and bonds to form. Even though you may not know someone personally, knowing that someone came from your hometown / country gives you a special connection to that person.
Julie,
Thank you so much! Believe it or not, it was hard for me to write the article. I was very emotional thinking about the many people who lose their lives over senselessness. To see Missy Franklin shout out her hometown consistently and let them know that she was going to make them proud gave them hope in the midst of an awful, terroristic event. It also makes you consider the lives of men and women who fight for our freedom and those in other countries that are in civil war and their athletes may use sport to escape war-ravaged areas. Somehow we feel like we know athletes when they reach back and just acknowledge what’s going on.
Great article! Olympians are such role models for both the older and younger generations. I do feel like the Olympics really brings people together in a positive way.
Thanks, Donna. I agree – Olympians, and athletes in general, serve as role models. There is something pristine about the Olympics. Every four years we change our lives to cheer on our hometown heroes!
I think its awesome to see young people beat the odds and make a difference for their community as well as their country. When i first saw Missy Franklin swim, i knew she was going to do well in the Olympics because of her determination. In the past swimming hasn’t been a favorite sport of mine until this years Olympics. I’m very competitive in sports and i find myself cheering in front of the TV for Team USA like I’m there in London with them. I’m a proud supporter of Team USA.
Krystal,
Missy has quite the determination, doesn’t she?! It’s fun cheering on our country and we definitely get caught up yelling at the TV as if they can hear us! But that’s sports, right? We lose our minds celebrating our favorite athletes and teams. Go Team USA!!
[...] week following the Aurora movie theater tragedy, 17-year-old Missy Franklin provided her town with hope. Franklin won four gold medals in the 400m [...]