Beyond the Gold

This is the best story out of the Winter Olympics so far.

Every two years, for two weeks, the world watches as elite athletes give it their all on the biggest stage of sport. Competing in events we all know and events we’ve never heard of, these individuals and teams lay it on the line in hopes of bringing back to their countries memories and medals.

And then there’s Joey Cheek. Here’s the guy who at 16 moved from North Carolina to Canada because he wanted to be a world-class speed skater after seeing it on TV in 1994. This is the guy who trained and trained, came back from a fall in Salt Lake, and won gold yesterday in Italy. And, this is the guy who donated his winnings to help displaced children in Darfur.

American athletes receive $25,000 from the US Olympic Committee for winning a gold medal. Most keep the money; after all, being an amateur athlete usually doesn’t pay the bills. However, last night, before answering questions about his dominating performance, Joey announced that his winnings, all of it, would go to his idol’s (Johann Olav Koss) charity, Right to Play. The money is earmarked to go specifically to Darfur.

This is remarkable for many reasons. For one, Joey hopes to begin college this fall somewhere in the Ivy League, and this money sure could help pay tuition and other expenses. Or, were he to forego college and start life away from the oval, the money could form a great foundation for his next endeavor. But, for Joey, following his hero’s footsteps into the sport also meant following his footsteps out of it, giving away his winnings to benefit those who need it the most.

The Olympics inspire me for this reason. The performances on the snow or the ice are merely the decoration. The true substance of the epic sporting event is the backstories. Like an episode of Lost, every participant has a story filled with courage, charity, sacrifice or pain. Many overcome unthinkable obstacles to arrive in Torino and take their turn with destiny. Let us remember to look past the podium and into the hearts of these athletes. If we do, we’ll see winners in more ways than gold.