John Stephen Akhwari, a marathon runner, has only participated in the Olympic Games once on behalf of his motherland-1968 Mexico City Olympic Games, ranking the bottom among all 75 contestants. Before and after this, he didn't record any good results worth mentioning, which is not unusual in Africa where there are many long-distance runners.
However, it is such a runner at the bottom, but he has gained a louder reputation and a wider and deeper influence than many Olympic champions. Now, nearly 40 years later, people still can't forget him. His name was engraved on the Who's Who of the Olympic Games, and he also became a part of the Beijing Olympic Games series "Song of Heroes". In his native Tanzania, a "John Stephen Avari Sports Foundation" is in full swing.
Isn't the purpose of the Olympic Games faster, higher and stronger? What did the runner at the bottom do to win such a high honor?
In other words, 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games is the first summer Olympic Games held on the plateau. The special geographical and climatic conditions made the track and field competitions of that Olympic Games splendid, and many unprecedented good results appeared. By contrast, the result of the marathon is too ordinary. Mamo Wald of Ethiopia, the champion, scored 2 hours, 20 minutes and 26.4 seconds, much worse than the 2 hours 12 minutes1.2 seconds set by his compatriot and two-time Olympic gold medalist Abibe Bikila at the Tokyo Olympics four years ago. Japanese Hara Kenji and New Zealand's Michael Ryan scored more than 2 hours and 23 seconds. In addition to the routine examination of the award ceremony, the reporters are most concerned about Bikila, the "barefoot fairy" who collapsed after running only 17 km due to injury. They didn't care too much about other runners, and the audience didn't bet too much on the marathon. When the award ceremony was over and all other activities in the venue were over, they were in twos and threes.
More than an hour later, the organizing Committee began to inform the service stations along the marathon to start evacuation. The result was a news that surprised everyone: a runner was still running!
It turns out that the runner who is still running is Avari. He fell down after running less than 5 kilometers, injured his knee and dislocated his shoulder, but instead of quitting, he limped to the finish line. Gradually, all the players left him far behind; Gradually, the cheering crowds on both sides of the street have dispersed and the sky is getting darker and darker. Everyone thought the marathon was over, and only Avari ran steadily, because he felt that his race was far from over.
Half an hour later, it was completely dark, and Avari continued. Because of the severe pain, he jogs slower than ordinary people, his knees bleed and his mouth twitches painfully.
I don't know when a man appeared beside him. He was a reporter from Delta Sky Illustrated. The reporter looked at him sympathetically and asked inexplicably, why did he run away knowing that he had no chance of winning?
Obviously, Avari was unprepared. He "ran" silently for a long time, and then suddenly replied firmly: "My motherland sent me to Mexico City, not just to let me start, but to let me run to the finish line."
The deeply moved reporter not only sent the manuscript to his magazine, but also immediately sent it back to the Olympic News Center. Avari's famous words soon echoed over Mexico City, the most populous city in the world, and many citizens who had already gone home rushed to the roadside to cheer for this brave player. Encouraged by the audience, Avari dragged his legs into the Aztec Stadium, where the lights were turned on for him, almost a yard.
He was surrounded like a hero and received far more grand courtesy than the champion. Because of his excitement, people forgot to count his exact grades. Only he ranked 57th out of 75 in the Olympic score book, and the 18 player who came after him all retired for various reasons.
Avari was born in Mburu, Mburu, British Tanganyika on 1938. He was a 30-year-old veteran when he participated in the Mexican Olympic Games. Although there was no previous achievement, as the first athlete in Tanzania's history to participate in the Olympic Games, he did not live up to the country's high hopes and became the "most beautiful bottom". Shortly after the Olympic Games, he retired and joined the Tanzanian Olympic Committee. Now, he focuses on the "John Stephen Avari Sports Foundation", hoping to help more young athletes so that they will not run behind others in the future Olympic Games.
Story 2: Greek weightlifter dimas.
Dimas, the Greek weightlifting champion who won three Olympic Games, hopes to finish his sports career with a gold medal in front of his hometown elders. However, he only won the bronze medal. At the award ceremony, after his name and award were announced, the audience stood up and applauded for more than ten minutes to pay tribute to their hero. Dimas said, this time I won two medals, a bronze medal, which was awarded to me by the championship; My people gave me a gold medal.
Greenspan: When most people are chasing the championship, my camera is aimed at those who are frustrated on the field. I can proudly say that I have changed the way people look at sports and sports people. I found the spirit of persistence, hard work, unity and friendship from the stories of sports people, which is also the spirit respected by the Olympic Movement.
Story 3: Polish female athletes donate gold medals to help children with leukemia.
Otylia jedrzejczak, a Polish female athlete, won the women's 200m butterfly gold medal in Athens Olympic Games. She is also the first Olympic swimming champion in Poland. But what is more valuable is that she auctioned the gold medal and donated the proceeds to the Children's Hospital for the treatment of leukemia children.
Greenspan: Many people were moved to tears when they saw the rescued child hanging his paper gold medal around her neck. This is the most important reason why we chose this story. My movie is not a sports movie, but a story about people in motion. This is not just for sports fans, but for everyone. So many people don't like sports, but they like my movie very much because it can move them.
Story 4: Queiroy, a Moroccan track and field athlete who fought in the Olympic Games three times.
Queiroy is an excellent athlete, who has won the World Championships1500m championship for many times. He took part in two Olympic Games, but he missed the champion who was determined to win. At the Athens Olympics, he finally won the gold medal. After winning the gold medal, he rushed to the stands and kissed his two-month-old daughter.
Greenspan: His story is very dramatic. It was not until he participated in the Olympic Games for the third time that he finally overcame his psychological obstacles and realized his glory in the Olympic Games. The scene where he rushed into the stands was very touching, because such a moment was a happy moment that every athlete hoped for, and his persistence finally paid off.
Story 5: The American women's softball team that won three consecutive Olympic Games.
The story tells how Lisa, an old member of the American women's softball team, fought hard with her teammates and won the Olympic champion three times in a row. There is also the head coach of the team, who experienced the pain of losing his wife before the start of the game, but still led the team to the game and led the team to victory.
Greenspan: Although we all know that digging up negative news will attract people, I always choose stories to find their beautiful side and use my lens and language to show these beautiful things.
Story 6: Sister Maiers, an Australian cyclist.
A pair of sisters who have loved bicycles since childhood are both rivals and teammates. On the eve of the Olympic Games, my sister withdrew from the competition due to injury, and my sister continued to work hard to win the Olympic champion, realizing the common Olympic dream of the two sisters.
Story 1: Mariel, an American athlete who won the gold medal in women's fencing? Zaguni
Five months before the start of the Olympic Games, Mariel lost the Olympic Games. But she didn't give up and continued to train hard. A few days before the competition, Mariel got a ticket for the Athens Olympic Games because an athlete retired due to injury. But no one expected that she finally won the first women's fencing championship for the US team.
Greenspan: Few people paid attention to fencers before. In the official Olympic film, this is the first time to tell the story of a fencer. I chose her because of her perseverance, knowing that the opportunity was slim, she still didn't give up her efforts, and finally got what she wanted and won the Olympic champion.
When choosing stories, I think stories that others find boring or useless are very valuable to me, because I find the beauty of human nature from them.
Story 2: Greek weightlifter dimas.
Dimas, the Greek weightlifting champion who won three Olympic Games, hopes to finish his sports career with a gold medal in front of his hometown elders. However, he only won the bronze medal. At the award ceremony, after his name and award were announced, the audience stood up and applauded for more than ten minutes to pay tribute to their hero. Dimas said, this time I won two medals, a bronze medal, which was awarded to me by the championship; My people gave me a gold medal.
Greenspan: When most people are chasing the championship, my camera is aimed at those who are frustrated on the field. I can proudly say that I have changed the way people look at sports and sports people. I found the spirit of persistence, hard work, unity and friendship from the stories of sports people, which is also the spirit respected by the Olympic Movement.
Story 3: Polish female athletes donate gold medals to help children with leukemia.
Polish female athlete Otillia? Jed Dezezak won the women's 200m butterfly gold medal in Athens Olympic Games, and she was also the first Olympic swimming champion in Poland. But what is more valuable is that she auctioned the gold medal and donated the proceeds to the Children's Hospital for the treatment of leukemia children.
Greenspan: Many people were moved to tears when they saw the rescued child hanging his paper gold medal around her neck. This is the most important reason why we chose this story. My movie is not a sports movie, but a story about people in motion. This is not just for sports fans, but for everyone. So many people don't like sports, but they like my movie very much because it can move them.
Story 4: Queiroy, a Moroccan track and field athlete who fought in the Olympic Games three times.
Queiroy is an excellent athlete, who has won the World Championships1500m championship for many times. He took part in two Olympic Games, but he missed the champion who was determined to win. At the Athens Olympics, he finally won the gold medal. After winning the gold medal, he rushed to the stands and kissed his two-month-old daughter.
Greenspan: His story is very dramatic. It was not until he participated in the Olympic Games for the third time that he finally overcame his psychological obstacles and realized his glory in the Olympic Games. The scene where he rushed into the stands was very touching, because such a moment was a happy moment that every athlete hoped for, and his persistence finally paid off.
Story 5: The American women's softball team that won three consecutive Olympic Games.
The story tells how Lisa, an old member of the American women's softball team, fought hard with her teammates and won the Olympic champion three times in a row. There is also the head coach of the team, who experienced the pain of losing his wife before the start of the game, but still led the team to the game and led the team to victory.
Greenspan: Although we all know that digging up negative news will attract people, I always choose stories to find their beautiful side and show these beautiful things with my lens and language.
Story 6: Sister Maiers, an Australian cyclist.
A pair of sisters who have loved bicycles since childhood are both rivals and teammates. On the eve of the Olympic Games, my sister withdrew from the competition due to injury, and my sister continued to work hard to win the Olympic champion, realizing the common Olympic dream of the two sisters.
Greenspan: We paid attention to these two sisters before the Athens Olympic Games. They are all young, but they have achieved good results. It's a pity that my sister can't take part in the Olympic Games, but as long as she works hard for her dream, she is a hero in my eyes.
"I don't just pay attention to the players who won the first or second place because the media's attention is focused on them. I care about those athletes who can show the Olympic spirit and good humanity, although their performance is not very good. " Greenspan, who won an Olympic medal, has his own unique views on the production of official Olympic films. Greenspan said that he would be happy to contribute to the filming of the promotional film for the Beijing Olympic Games. "I'm always ready," he said.
The person who touched the Queen came from dorado, Italy, in the marathon of 1908 London Olympic Games. Petrie was the first to run into the playground. But in the game, he almost ran out of energy. Petrie, who was extremely weak, kept falling in the last 400 meters, got up and fell again ... Seeing American Hayes approaching behind him, some spectators rushed into the field to help petrie finish the race. Queen Alexander of England was also moved by petrie's fighting spirit and asked the organizing committee for an award.
The story of shooting champion Li Duihong.
1, Li Duihong is a soldier and has a twin sister, both of whom are military sharpshooters.
2. Because of years of shooting practice, cervical spinal canal is narrow, facet joints are dislocated, and lumbar dislocation is serious. When you get sick, you can't move in bed, you can't wear clothes, and you need help to undress.
After the Athens Olympic Games, her lover died prematurely of a heart attack, which made her suffer a heavy blow. In the past two years, her grades have been unstable, which made her feel more helpless and wronged. But in June 2005, she returned to the national team.
After losing her husband, she is more eager for the support and help of her relatives. With the help of Nanjing Daily, she finally met her long-lost uncle's family and found her lost family again, and her heart was finally full of warmth. .
The story of track and field champion Wang
1, being an athlete is very hard. Wang has paid a lot for the sports he loves. 1993 When I participated in the World Championships, my brother died in a car accident, and my family kept it a secret for fear that it would affect my performance.
As an athlete, she tasted the sweetness again. 1996 At the Atlanta Olympic Games, the champion wore the national flag and walked around the field, showing a bright smile to the world. She was known as the "Oriental Deer" and was the most beautiful at that time.
After retiring, I went to college just because I needed it, and never thought about getting a diploma. Poor foundation, homework made her anxious and her mouth bubbled. Walking on the road, I came home, still mumbling English words.
Being a mother is happy and gratifying. Because of work, I can't be with my son often. I miss Hua Song's dream endlessly: one day, she had a dream that she hit her son and the child came to comfort her. In her sleep, she was in tears.
The story information of swimming champion Le Jingyi.
1, Le Jingyi is born to swim: shoulder width, small hips, long legs, strong explosive force and light water. But I don't like swimming. Because of tracheitis, her family sent her to learn swimming in order to keep fit.
2. I was "abandoned" by many coaches because my physique was too thin and my quality was too poor when I was a child: I was recommended to jump for the first time, and I was eliminated because my legs were stuffy and my explosive power was insufficient; Later, I went to the synchronized swimming team, but because of poor flexibility and long legs, I was rejected because I was out of line with my partner's legs. Finally, I had to learn swimming again.
After hard training, she won the women's 100 meter freestyle in the 26th Atlanta Olympic Games.
After retiring, she has been reluctant to give up her swimming complex and wants to run a swimming school.
The story of table tennis champion Qiao Hong.
1, Hong was born in Wuhan, a strong sports area known as the "cradle of world champions". She started playing at the age of 7, and a good sports atmosphere laid the foundation for her to become an Olympic champion.
2. Qiao Hong did well in school when he was a child, and the teacher said he could go to a foreign language college. However, the first coach said that she has a good understanding and will definitely be able to practice famous things in the future. Mom wants her to study and dad wants her to play ball. Finally, her father made her promise to play ball while finishing her study task.
3. When I was a child, in a district-level competition, Qiao Hong took the lead and the champion came. But the teacher and coach suggested that Qiao Hong give the champion to her opponent, because her opponent will soon graduate from primary school, and this competition will leave her with the best memories of her primary school. Young Qiao Hong couldn't understand it, and cried on the spot, but finally gave up the championship.
4. As an adult, she was injured in the women's doubles final of table tennis in Barcelona Olympic Games. The fierce competition made her leg ache and sweaty, but she still fought hard and finally won the women's doubles gold medal with Deng Yaping.
The story of gymnastics champion Li.
1, Li and his twin brother Li Dashuang were born in a poor family. At the age of 6, their family let them choose gymnastics just to reduce their financial burden. 10 years old, grandpa took the burden and sent them to the provincial team.
Xiao Shuang trains very hard. In order to pull the ligament, the coach pressed himself on his delicate leg until he passed the exam. In order to practice the horizontal bar, he wore out his hands and dyed the horizontal bar red with blood.
3, but fate has been playing tricks on the young man. Rejected by the national team twice. After going in, nobody took him seriously. Therefore, Xiao Shuang thinks that the coach must show his talents in the 1 1 Asian Games and finally win the individual gold medal of floor exercise as he wishes.
4, 199 1 year, fate played a trick on him again. He was injured many times and fell into a slight concussion while testing new moves within three weeks. Then, at the world championship, he withdrew from the final. However, he did not flinch. When his teammate failed in the Barcelona Olympic Games, he lived up to expectations and boldly used the "back flip for three weeks" to win the only gymnastics gold medal for the China Gymnastics Team in the Barcelona Olympic Games.
Story information of weightlifting champion Zhan Xugang
On the afternoon of May 1, 1974, 15, there was a baby crying in Zhanjia, Shangyingpanshan, Kaihua County, Quzhou City. A fat boy named Zhan Xugang was born! After he was born, he showed abnormal health, his hands and feet were twice as thick as those of ordinary children, and he seldom got sick.
2. 10 years old, in order to change from agriculture to hukou, began to practice weightlifting, which was out of control. Became the first person in the history of weightlifting in China to win two consecutive Olympic titles. After retiring.
He came back in February 2003, and his age and injury became obstacles to his progress. Losing weight in his thirties made him miserable. He couldn't eat or drink water, and finally he was so hungry that he wanted to eat what others vomited!
4. Athens Olympic Games has always dreamed of "three consecutive championships". He lost, walked out of the background, and his eyes were red before he spoke. "Today's opponent is very strong, which has caused me a lot of pressure." After that, tears kept rolling in her eyes, and the brilliant champion who had experienced two Olympic Games choked up.