Reaching Out

I caught up on the Figure Skating from Vancouver this afternoon. I so love my DVR. It is the best thing since my microwave.

I watched the short program for the ladies and was touched by a short in-studio interview Bob Costas, that is Mr. NBC Olympics to you and me, had with Dan Jansen, gold medalist speed skater. It was endearing and reminded me that some experiences are human, not athletic or political.

Dan Jansen spoke of emailing Joannie Rochette, the ladies figure skater from Canada, whose mother died suddenly just a few days before Joannie was set to perform her short program.

Why would Dan call her, you may wonder?

In the 1988 Winter Games he was favored to come away with gold medals. The morning of his race he received a call that his beloved sister, Jane, had died of leukemia. With his family's blessing, and feeling Jane would be watching from above, Dan set out to compete on the world's stage. He crashed in the first turn of his race. He was disappointed at his performance, but devastated at the loss of his sister.

He understands what Joannie might be feeling. He's been there.

Dan came back to compete as a favorite in the 1992 games but, again, did not medal. Two years later, the Winter Games were held in Lillihammer, Norway. Dan returned yet again, and finally won the gold medal, which he dedicated to his sister, Jane.

Heart break can be an isolating feeling. And Olympic sports stars, these dedicated athletes, are not immune from that kind of emotion. In my heart, I applaud Dan Jansen's effort to reach out another athlete whose heart is breaking while all the world is watching. Not many of these elite athletes can understand and empathize with her. I am so glad he did. I hope it helped ease her heavy heart. It helped mine.