The 2024 Summer Olympics were exciting to watch. Team USA did very well earning more medals than any other country. Lots of interesting stories from this year’s Olympics.
One of my favorite stories in sports is not from one of The Olympic Games but the story does involve an Olympic medalist.
Kenyan Olympic medalist; Abel Matuai (London Olympics), and Ivan Fernandez Anaya from Spain are the athletes in this story. The event was a cross-country race held in northern Spain in 2012. Matuai was leading the race with Anaya a good distance behind him as they headed to the finish line. Abel Mutuai got confused by the banners thinking he had crossed the finish line. As Ivan Frenandez Anaya caught up with him he shouted at Matuai – but Matuai did not understand Spanish. So as can be seen in a video of the finish of the race; Anaya pointed and guided Mutuai across the finish line.
When a journalist asked Iván, “Why did you do that?” he replied, “My dream is that someday we can have a kind of community life where we push and help each other to win.” The journalist insisted, “But why did you let the Kenyan win?” Iván responded, “I didn’t let him win; he was going to win. The race was his.” The journalist again said, “But you could have won!” Iván looked at him and replied, “But what would be the merit of my victory? What would be the honor in that medal? What would my mother think of that?”
I am really interested in seeing what these 2 runners are doing today. If anyone knows let me know – otherwise I will do some research and report back what I have found out. One thing I am sure of: Ivan’s mom is very proud of him!
Russ
Check out these other Health Matters articles: Training 4 Life: 9 Adaptations and Problems with Protein Absorption and Digestion which features content from a Registered Dietitian colleague of mine.
Video of the finish of the race.
Have a great day.