Survival of the Fittest

As I watch the summer Olympics unfold I can’t help but marvel at the athletes that complete in the games. The time and devotion that these people have dedicated to their sport is truly astounding. I read about their training regimes with my mouth agape and can’t imagine the sacrifice they’ve made to be the best for their country. I am awe-struck by their endurance, speed, strength and agility. As my family and I watch, we have been debating which athletes are the fittest. Is it the runners who can cover a mile in less than four minutes? Is it the gymnasts who can propel their bodies in the air, flip around several times and then land on their feet? Or how about the swimmers who can swim a mile faster than many can run a mile?

I guess the answer depends on how you measure fitness. There are several parameters of fitness, whether it’s strength, power, flexibility, coordination, agility or kinesthetic awareness-can you feel what you’re doing in space. But different sports have different requirements among the sport, so it’s not one size fits all. The bottom line is that all of the athletes are incredibility fit in their own right. And as I watch, it makes me want to accomplish a fraction of what they do in my own little private Olympics in my head. Yeah, I can run a little faster today. Or jump a little higher. Or lift a bit more weight. Let those athletes inspire you to do better too, no matter your sport of choice.