Storyline: In sports, surprises are par for the course–especially in the Olympics.
With 2016 Rio Olympics kicked into high gear, the phrase “anything is possible” is making its way into conversations regarding every event.
Courtesy: citynews.ca
For example, take Heat 4 in the men’s 100m dash. There were big names with big expectations. Canada’s dAndre de Grasse, who finished third in the world championships last year, lived up to everyone’s standards by placing first and proceeding to the semi-finals.
Jimmy Vicaut from France also had many eyes on him, thanks to the 10.01s he ran to qualify for the 2016 Olympics. But when it came time to show, he ran a 10.19s–18s slower than his seeded time, which cost him. He placed fourth in his heat. The top two fastest runners go on to the next round.
It’s another example of the fact that, in sport, anything is possible–good and bad. You can’t predict a bad start, slow reaction, or an unexpected great push at the finish.
But mostly when I think of the phrase “anything is possible,” I think back to Friday in Rio. There were four women soccer games. One, in particular, left everyone buzzing about “what could have and should have been.”
The first women’s soccer (make that ‘football’) game of the day was the USA facing off in quarters against Sweden. The Women’s USA team was favoured to win, as they were looking to capture their fourth straight Gold Medal.
Courtesy: zimbio.com
But what actually happened? Three yellow cards were distributed during the game. After 8 shot attempts on goal, the USA’s Alex Morgan was able to score with 13 minutes remaining. That goal tied the game after Sweden’s Stina Blackstenius shockingly put Sweden on top at the beginning of the second half.
Morgan’s counter-attack sent the game into two additional extra sessions before the teams entered a penalty shoot-out.
The women persevered, going back and forth, scoring on the net. Tied at 3-3, USA’s Christen Press missed a crucial penalty shot opportunity. Then Sweden’s Lisa Dahlqvist scored to end it.
Not only were the USA women denied a fourth consecutive Gold Medal, the team won’t medal at all.
USA goalie, Hope Solo, who has become a household name, then said: “We played like a bunch of cowards. The better team did not win.” The media and fans took what she said out of context.
Think about it. Your team is on its way to its fourth consecutive first place medal, but her team could not even get passed the quarter-finals. It’s frustrating!
Courtesy: eonline.com
Any athlete knows the pain of losing. Any athlete understands the pressure to come back and be better than you were the last time–to live up to the standards you hold for yourself or–in this case–the standards that are held for you internationally.
A football fan on Twitter, @rustymk2, shared her thoughts following Solo’s quote: “She basically said, ‘They didn’t play in a manner which would make it possible for us to win.’ STFU, Hope Solo.”
Courtesy Grant Wahl on Twitter
What no one else cared to read her full quote. Solo explained why she referred to Sweden as ‘cowards.’ “Sweden dropped off. They didn’t want to open play. They didn’t want to pass the ball. They didn’t try and press. They didn’t want to open the game. And they tried to counter with longballs. I think it was very cowardly.”
Basically, she felt that Sweden did not match the level of physical, combative play that her USA team brought to the match.
Afterwards, Hope Solo took to Twitter again. She wrote: “Losing sucks. I’m really bad at it.”
It was a devastating reality check for the USAWNT. Fans had an expected outcome, but Sweden unexpectedly knocked out the reigning champs. The players played their hearts out. It was a tenacious fight, followed by a dramatic shootout, and ended in a grueling loss.
If the result from this game proves anything, it’s that anything is possible. Never be too certain about an outcome when it comes to sports — especially at the Olympics.
