Just when I finished slightly making fun of those who quote Baron de Coubertin’s overused “not the triumph but the struggle, not to win but to take part”, I came across this story of Canadian Greco-Roman wrestler Ari Taub which made me want to bow my head in shame.
To understand why, here’s a list of things you should know about Ari Taub:
1. He is a Canadian wrestler who qualified for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. He, however, lost his spot when he agreed to a wrestle-off with another wrestler.2. Doctors told him that he developed bone spurs in his neck and that he was at risk of being a quadraplegic if he continues to wrestle. His dream crushed, he then goes to law school. Eight years later, it was discovered that he was misdiagnosed and that he can actually wrestle.
3. He returned to wrestling in 2004 and won the Canadian open. He was on the verge of going to Athens but was told that he is not eligible because he lacked international matches.
4. In 2008, he got a spot for the Beijing Games but he has to finance his own training, his trip to the Olympics and other international competitions. Odd, no? Here’s why according to our reliable source: For some inexplicable reason, freestyle wrestlers are funded athletes but Greco-Roman wrestlers are not.
5. When he goes to Beijing Ari Taub, at 37 years old, might be the oldest wrestler in the competition.
Whew. His story is an inspiring example of the Olympic ideal of “not to win but to take part”, isn’t it? So because of Ari Taub, I promise to never again poke fun at whoever uses that quote again. [But in my defense, I was teasing sports officials not athletes.]
Anyways, good luck Ari. You’ve got us in your corner.
Outside reading: Canada.com and Globe and Mail
PHOTO SOURCES: wrestling.ca and leitor.com
