Freewheeling Blog: The Best Moment at the Olympics

As I watch the variety of sport and nations in this year's Summer Games in Paris, I think back to a wonderful moment during my trip to the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

The Olympic atmosphere was unlike any other. Although we in the crowd cheered loudest for the American athletes, we appreciated the other athletes. They also received applause. But none like the ovation for a foreign swimmer who finished last.

I attended a swimming session containing all preliminary events, which means many countries and levels of athletes competed. I could see the disparity between the top countries and the athletes from the other nations, but of course, the main point was that they all took part and did their best.

The most striking event was a set of 400-meter swimming preliminaries. Over that long distance, whenever the United States or other strong nations were involved, their athletes would finish far ahead of others. In one preliminary, an Egyptian swimmer was just starting his last 100-meter lap as the American was finishing the event - that's how far behind he was. In fact, he was a half-lap behind any other competitor.

We politely waited as he swam on his own and then lightly applauded once the Egyptian emerged from the pool. Then a strange thing happened. He excitedly began leaping in the air and running around the pool. No one knew why he would be so jubilant over finishing last.

Then the public address announcer said, "He has just set the Egyptian national record." What an honor! To set his country's record at the Olympics was a lifetime achievement! The audience rose to a roaring standing ovation. He raced around the pool a couple of times to the cheers of the crowd. The swimmer was smiling and crying at the same time, and so were we. Officials gently escorted the waving man out so the next race could be run.

I saw some amazing performances at the Los Angeles Summer Games. But the one I'll remember until my dying day is the gallant, lonesome, last place swim of the joyful Egyptian that brought nations together as one.