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We’re six weeks into living in Nashville, Tenn. – actually Brentwood, a suburb of Nashville – and still unpacking boxes; now, very slowly as I’m completely absorbed by the Beijing Olympics. I’m staying up far too late.
The joy and wonder of great achievements – I’m left speechless by Michael Phelps’s triumphs in the pool and by the 100m dash performances of Jamaican newcomers, Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser. STOP PRESS: Bolt has won the 200m dash with a new world record.
I’m proud of the successes of the British cycling team – the likes of Hoy, Wiggins, Romero and Pendleton – to win 14 road and track medals. It’s unusual for us Brits to hear the National Anthem played so many times, but it’s getting quite addictive.
These Olympics mean a lot to me as a British-Chinese woman living in the United States. As a first generation English-born person of immigrant parents from Hong Kong who settled in Britain in the 1960s, the Beijing games have brought up a host of feelings about identity and pride.
http://www.dimsum.co.uk/community/the-beijing-olympics-what-do-they-mean-to-a-bbc.html
My understanding of family, Chinese culture and identity come from my parents and their values. My formative years, education and working life were shaped by British society and I draw experience from the United States as a wife and mother; eight of those years influenced by my experiences in the Capital District, particularly Guilderland, NY. In short, I'm proud of my Chinese ancestry, my British upbringing and my American experiences.
Which country – China, Britain or America – makes me feel proud when their athletes win gold? The answer is all of them.
I can’t begin to describe the sporting excellence I’ve watched. I’m happy China won the diving golds and the men’s and women’s team gymnastics. I confess, I have a personal favorite, men’s all-round gold medalist Yang Wei; a rock-star gymnast.
I’m happy Rebecca Adlington won gold medals for the 400m freestyle, the first gold to be won by a British woman swimmer in half a century and for the 800m freestyle, breaking the world record held for 19 years. Adlington is only 19 – I admire the fearlessness of youth.
What a superb race for Christine Ohuruogu, the first British woman to win 400m track gold. I was on the edge of my seat as she powered through from the back.
Unforgiving stiff bones aside, I can only dream of exuding the artistry of Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson, numbers 1 & 2 in the all-round women’s gymnastics and well deserved too.
Think about their stories – one a child of two world-class Russian gymnasts who moved to the States in 1992 and the other coached by a former world Chinese gymnast who came to the States in 1990. You can see why I can be proud of more than one country.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valeri_Liukin
http://www.nbcolympics.com/gymnastics/news/newsid=167231.html#life+america+leads+chow+back+china
Imagine years of hard work crumble in front of you. My heart went out to Liu Xiang when he withdrew from the 110m hurdles because of injury and to Paula Radcliffe, yet again disappointed in the marathon. She finished the race, ran through her pain and that takes guts; a victory of sorts to replace the agony of not finishing in Athens where she was the favorite.
Go Dara Torres, the poster woman for those of us in our 40s. Only one-hundredth of a second lay between her silver medal and the gold won by Britta Steffen of Germany in the 50m freestyle. Dream big, no matter what your age.
I’m inspired to try harder to get back into shape at the new YMCA I’ve joined (here’s a shout out for the Maryland Farm’s YMCA) and I feel very positive about my new coach, Jennifer and her encouragement.
Words of precaution though for any back seat Olympians out there; read this article and don’t try it at home.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7563066.stm
Just in case you decide to reset your rowing machine or treadmill to Olympic standards because you wanted to experience the dizzy speeds of Olympic rowers or marathon runners!
Watch out for more posts this month as I describe how this British-Chinese North Easterner finds herself suddenly Southern.
SUSAN S. CHEUNG
