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February 14, 1998
Over the past year and a half, people have mentioned from time to
time that they still cannot watch nor talk about the long program
from the Olympics because it is just too sad. I disagree. I think it is very inspirational. I urge you to force yourselves to watch it again from a different point of view.
Yes, it was Elvis' time to win gold. Yes, it was rotten luck that the flu aggravated what had been a manageable injury. Any other skater would have withdrawn under the circumstances. But not Elvis. He had trained for his Olympic gold moment for years and he is NOT a quitter. With fighting determination he pushed past the pain remaining totally focused on performing each element of the program. With super human effort he somehow managed to land eight triples.
This moment was not a lost opportunity for a gold medal; nor is it too painful to watch. This moment was a triumph of the human spirit; a testament to what any of us can accomplish if we stay focused and relentlessly pursue our goals. This was the moment where Elvis went from being just another terrific skater to being a true hero.
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It is the surmounting of difficulties that makes men heroes. ~~ Louis Kossuth ~~ |
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 © CP
I had completely put it out of my mind. I said, "I have to deal with
this... This is the Olympic Games. I’ll skate with no leg if I have
to." |
 © CP
All I kept saying to myself as I came around, I said, "Just once.
All I need is just this once, just take, just bear the pain
and get through it." |
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Courage permits the caliber of the performance to continue
at its peak until the finish line is crossed.
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 © Photo by Mike Powell of Allsport
I've never been in a state like that before. I saw nothing, heard nothing. It was so
intense for 4 1/2 minutes, then all of a sudden the pain hits you.
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 © AP
Strength does not come from winning.
Your struggles develop your strengths.
When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, THAT is
strength. |
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Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who
dared believe that something inside them was superior to
circumstances.
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 © Photo by Doug Mills, AP |
 © CP |
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When there is a brave man, in the thickest of
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It's a matter of dealing with what you have...There's nothing more
I could have done...I went out there and just gritted my teeth...
I said, "...Four minutes, forty seconds. That's all I need." And when
I look back on this ten years from now, I'm not going to say, "I
could have tried. I could have done more." I did the best I could and
put in 100%.
I had pushed myself to a limit that I had never touched before,
and that, that’s definitely going to change you.
It is through being wounded that power grows and can, in the
end, become tremendous.
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OK, no need to start playing patriotic music in the background,
I'll step off my soap box now. Just thought I'd share.
