Issue 73 - Golden

Welcome to Issue 73 of Deep Life Reflections, where I share five things I’ve been enjoying and thinking about over the past week.

This week, we’re fully embracing the Olympic spirit. For the past two weeks, the world has been captivated by Paris, where over 10,000 athletes from 206 nations have competed in 329 events across 32 sports. In this issue, we explore the inspirational journey of Olympian Lopez Lomong, who went from war-torn Sudan to the Beijing Olympics, as told in his story Running for My Life. We’ll also highlight some of the standout moments from these Games and contemplate why the Olympics captivate us, exploring the deeper reasons behind our collective enjoyment.

Join me as we explore this week’s Friday Five.

1. What I’m Reading

Running For My Life. By Lopez Lomong.

“When I ran, I did not think about conditions in the camp or the hunger in my belly. Running was my therapy, my release, my escape from the world around me.”

Most Olympic stories have humble beginnings, embodying the idea that Olympians are made, not born. This reflects the Olympic Creed that it’s not the triumph but the struggle that matters, mirroring the journey of life itself. Running for My Life: One Lost Boy’s Journey from the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games is a powerful testament to this belief. Lopez Lomong shares his extraordinary journey from a barefoot boy in the Sudanese Civil War to becoming a proud member of the U.S. Olympic Team at the 2008 Beijing Games.

At just six years old, Lopez Lomong was abducted by the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, a rebel group intent on turning him into a child soldier in the brutal Second Sudanese Civil War, which raged from 1987 to 2005. This devastating conflict claimed the lives of two million people and left over 20,000 boys displaced or orphaned. These children came to be known as ‘The Lost Boys of Sudan.’ Lopez Lomong was one of them.

Held in a death-ridden prison camp, Lomong, along with three other boys, found a hole in the fence and ran as fast as they could, in what he describes as their “race to freedom.” For three days and nights, they ran across the rugged terrain of East Africa, too terrified to stop. Eventually, they reached the relative safety of Kenya, where Lomong was placed in a UN refugee camp, spending the next ten years of his life there.

Survival in the camp was a daily struggle. There was little food and constant uncertainty. As Lomong described it, “We were just living in a place that was a no-man’s-land. There was no flag flying over our heads. We had no place to call home.” Yet it was here, running around the perimeter of the camp and scavenging for scraps of food, that Lomong’s love for running—and his natural talent—took shape. It became his way of coping and forging an identity and purpose.

In 2001, Lomong’s journey took another dramatic turn. At 16, he was among nearly 4,000 Lost Boys resettled in various cities across the United States. Adopted by a family in a small town in upstate New York, Lomong attended high school, where his passion for running grew into a serious pursuit. It was here that the boy who once ran for survival began to dream of running as a career. His incredible journey culminated in a defining moment at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he had the honour of carrying the U.S. flag during the opening ceremony and competed in the 1500 meters. He went on to compete in the 2012 London Olympics, placing 10th in the 5,000 meters.

A crucial moment in Lomong’s story came when he watched Michael Johnson compete in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. It was the first time he had ever watched television, and Johnson’s performance ignited something deep within him. That spark became a guiding light, a metaphorical Olympic torch. Michael Johnson later reflected on Lomong’s journey, saying, “Lopez Lomong’s story is one of true inspiration. His life is a story of courage, hard work, never giving up, and having hope where there is hopelessness all around.”

It's not the triumph, but the struggle that defines us.

2. What I’m Watching

Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Like many people, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the action from Paris over the past two weeks. While Tokyo 2020—held in 2021 because of the pandemic—had its share of special moments, the lack of crowds resulted in a more subdued and spectral atmosphere. In contrast, Paris 2024 is alive with noise, history, and culture, giving the Games a buoyant feel—exactly 100 years since the city last hosted them.

Everyone has their own favourite events and moments from the Games. One of the genuine pleasures is experiencing both the familiar and the new, whether in the events themselves or the athletes competing. Yesterday, I watched the Speed Climbing Final, where two exceptionally nimble climbers raced up a 15-meter wall (49.2 feet) in well under five seconds—making even Spiderman seem slow in comparison. It’s fast and furious, where the slightest mistake can be costly.

I’ve also enjoyed watching gymnastics (pommel horse and rings), skateboarding, cycling (both velodrome and road), canoeing and kayaking, table tennis, and many other events. With 10,714 athletes competing in Paris, each one brings their own unique story of dedication and commitment to their craft. It’s these stories that give the Olympics a deeply human feel, despite the incredible strength, flexibility, and skill on display—abilities that often seem beyond the reach of normal human capacity.

My favourite Olympic events are always on the track. As a runner who has competed in amateur club events in the 800m, 1500m, 5,000m and 400m Relay, I love the track. Here are three of my favourite moments so far:

• Keely Hodgkinson winning the 800m Gold, cementing her reputation as the best 800m runner in the world right now. A brilliant performance from the 23-year-old who had the weight of expectation on her and delivered.

• Josh Kerr, a fellow Scot, taking Silver in the 1500m in what might be the greatest 1500m race in Olympic history. The battle between Kerr, World Champion, and Jakob Ingebrigtsen, the Norwegian Olympic Champion, was so ferocious that they essentially ran each other out, allowing American Cole Hocker to exploit the opportunity brilliantly in the final 50 metres to win Gold.

• Netherlands’ victory in the Mixed 400M Relay, highlighted by an incredible final leg from the brilliant Dutch runner Femke Bol. Despite starting the final leg far behind, Bol's speed, class, and style allowed her to effortlessly overtake three world-class athletes in the final stretch, securing a stunning win—redemption after she fell just a few metres from the line in the same race one year ago at the World Championships.

A special mention as well to the Pole Vault competition and the Men’s winner, Mondo Duplantis, a 24-year-old American-born Swedish phenomenon who broke his own world record on his final jump with an astonishing height of 6.25 metres, retaining his Olympic Gold Medal. This was the ninth time Duplantis had broken the world record. It must be quite a feeling swinging into the night sky, hanging in the air and then swooping down to an enthralled reception from 80,000 people. As Duplantis said, “I’m probably a bit biased, but I don’t think there’s anything that’s more entertaining than pole vaulting. It’s exotic, it’s kind of a circus-level event and I think it’s so special.”

He could have been talking about the Olympics themselves.

What’s been your standout moment from the Paris Olympics so far? Let me know. I’d love to hear.

3. What I’m Contemplating

The Olympic Games have a unique ability to captivate the world, uniting billions in shared excitement and joy. The 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Games each drew over 3 billion viewers, and Paris is set to surpass both.

Why do we smile and cheer for athletes we’ve never met, who are competing in sports we rarely follow? It all comes down to our basic psychological needs. Humans crave belonging. When we rally behind a team or an athlete, we become part of something greater, transcending differences like race or gender. As Sonja Lyubomirsky, a professor of psychology specialising in happiness, explains, the key to happiness is connection. “Humans are hardwired to be together, support each other, and be in sync,” she says. The Olympics fulfill our need to fit in by supporting our country, while also allowing us to stand out by supporting individual athletes from across all nations.

Stories like that of Letsile Tebogo, who won Botswana’s first Olympic gold medal of any kind (for the Men’s 200m), further deepen our connection. Tebogo runs in memory of his mother, Seratiwa, who passed away in May aged just 44. His running shoe features the date of her birth as a tribute. His story, like many others, draws us in and makes us emotionally invested. According to psychologist Jonathan Haidt, witnessing these moments of greatness can lead to a feeling of ‘elevation’—an uplifting sensation that comes from seeing hard work pay off or acts of kindness.

But moments of greatness aren’t confined to the Olympics; they’re all around us, waiting to be acknowledged. In our daily lives, we often overlook the positives because our brains are wired for survival, making us more attuned to threats. This survival instinct can create a filter that skews our perception of reality. Overcoming this bias requires conscious effort.

Opportunities to celebrate are everywhere, from finishing a report to enjoying lunch with a friend, or simply making it home safely. These small victories matter. It doesn’t have to be a gold medal. The story of Lopez Lomong is a testament to that. While the Olympics will eventually come to an end, we can still find our own golden moments to celebrate every day.  

4. A Quote to note

“I have learned to appreciate how the little things in life can make a big difference. It’s those small, consistent efforts that lead to the most significant improvements.”

- Allyson Felix, American track and field athlete and multiple Olympic gold medalist.

5. A Question for you

What was your Olympic ‘gold medal’ moment this week, regardless of its size?

Thanks for reading and being part of the Deep Life Journey community. If you have any reflections on this issue, please leave a comment. Have a great weekend and enjoy the rest of the Olympics!

James

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