"We’re just human at the end of the day!” A great quote from a 2021 Olympic moment.
Out of every Olympics, come moments that are forever marked in history as 'great'. You might know of Jesse Owens powerfully winning the 100 metre men’s sprint in Berlin in 1936; or Steven Bradbury’s astounding 1,000 metre skating success at Salt Lake City in 2002; or Cathy Freeman’s sensational gold in the women’s 400 metres before her home crowd at Sydney in 2000.
At these 2020 Tokyo games, which were concluded last Sunday and were conducted during a pandemic, we have seen many extraordinary achievements across the diverse sports of the competition. But one Australian has given us a memorable moment with a profound quote to cherish, to digest and to promote.
Before 2021, few Australians had heard of Peter Bol. Peter was recently claimed as a 'home town boy' by the people of Toowoomba, as he rose to fame competing in these 2020 Tokyo Games. He was born in Sudan and when Peter was four years old, his family fled Sudan to escape the civil war. At the age of eight, Peter arrived in Toowoomba, then moving with his family to Perth. In 2015, Peter ended up in Melbourne to pursue his athletics career.
In Tokyo, Peter ran in the 800 metres men’s event. In the first two heats, he ran a personal best. In the final running for 'gold' Peter led for most of the race, only to end fourth as three others passed him in the final leg.
It was a great run, but it was Peter’s interview, straight after the event, that has given us a treasure for our nation and for the world.
Peter began by saying, “I’d be lying if I said I’m pretty happy right now. The goal was to win. So, I still have to reflect on that. At the same time, I think today, I didn’t know if I was going to win but I knew one thing for certain, that the whole of Australia was watching. That carried me on. I loved that part about it.”
Then in Peter’s next breath, this Aussie Olympic athlete gave us a quote to cherish for all time. He said, “I’m grateful to Australia, I’m thankful to everyone in Australia, we’re human at the end of the day. We inspired the whole nation. That’s the goal.”
“We’re human at the end of the day.” What a profound comment in that Olympic context.
This conviction is the heart of our College’s life and purpose. We are all made of the same stuff, created by a gracious and loving Creator, God. We are each called to find ways to celebrate each other and to bless each other and to receive God’s blessing in and through each other.
I thank God for Peter Bol’s bold heartfelt words. Peter finishes fourth and goes on to then celebrate our common humanity. At the same time, he declares that his purpose is to be part of inspiring a whole nation, that is caught up in the uncertainties of world-wide pandemic. That interview was a great moment in Olympic sport.
I am looking forward to watching Peter Bol in Paris 2024 and to listen for what he has to say then!
And so, I also wonder what will capture us from the competitors in the 2020 Paralympics beginning on August 24 this year?
“Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150)
God keep you and your loved ones safe at this time.
Cheers,
Pastor Paul
Pastor Paul Smith joins us at St Peters as interim Senior Pastor, in the role previously held by Pastor Thomas Bohmert. Pastor Paul was previously one our St Peters College Pastors before he was called to serve at Pacific Lutheran College at Caloundra in 2008. He is also a St Peters Old Scholar from the class of ‘79. Prior to coming to St Peters, Pastor Paul served two terms as the Bishop of the Lutheran Church in Queensland. After six years in this role, he did not seek renomination as Bishop in 2021, to promote the election and service of younger Pastors in the governance and leadership in the District Lutheran Church. Pastor Paul is married to Heidi who was previously also a St Peters College Chaplain. The Smiths have three adult children who are also Old Scholars of St Peters.
