Watching American Cole Hocker win the #Olympics 1500 meter race against Jakob Ingebretson and Josh Kerr was thrilling. Hocker covered the moves of those two world-class #runners, kicking home to win. For Ingebretson, it was a disappointing fourth, the worst place an #Olympian can finish. Yet I've long admired many fourth-place #Olympians, two of whom became world-class #writers, Kenny Moore and Don Kardong.
Jakob, who recently ran within hundredths of a second close to a decades-old 1500-meter world record, took the race under control and put it all on the line with a fast pace that led to a 3:27 winning time, an Olympic record. I've followed the Norwegian's career since he burst into international fame as a teenager. He's accomplished much, including world titles, since then.
Yet as he faded to fourth, I admired his bravery in challenging his rivals. In that respect, he resembled the late Steve Prefontaine in the 1972 Olympics, who finished fourth in the 5000 meters as a young man. Pre died in a car crash in 1975. He believed you had to "respect the race" by giving it all you had. He understood that "leaving it out there" leads to regrets.
In the photo shown here I am #running to a sixth-place finish in a high school conference cross-country meet my senior year. I took off at two miles, trying to take the race to my fellow competitors, but I could not hold the pace for the last quarter mile. You can see the pain on my face. I did the best I could that day, with no regrets. My father took this Polaroid photo as I approached the finishing chute. Sure, there was disappointment. We all have these moments in #time when #fear tests our #character, but the beauty of #sport is that even if you fail, you learn something from the #experience. We'll see what Jakob Ingebretson does in the 5000 meters. I predict it will be impressive. #running #run #crosscountry #trackandfield #competition #achievement
Director Flight Operations at Aer Lingus
2moCongratulations Ger and Siobhan and very best wishes for success at the games Orla.