PERSEVERANCE WINS GOLD
Henry Wanyoike, Kenya’s world-class athlete, recently said, ‘I want the world to remember me as the one who might have lost his eyesight but never lost his vision.’ Yes, multiple-world-record holder Henry is a visually impaired Paralympian, but that disability is a minor impediment when it is set against his single-minded grit to achieve glorious success for his country as well as for his family and himself.
It is this perseverance that I bow my head to. I believe it is that one pure quality that cannot be stained by scepticism or doubt. It defines us in times of challenges, when we are plagued by obstacles and tend to stray from our path; it is the cement that holds us together when we begin to crumble under the pressure of negativity; and it is that most important fuel that keeps the fire in our hearts burning, even when
It is that one pure QUALITY that can’t be stained by scepticism or doubt. It holds us together when we begin to CRUMBLE under the pressure of negativity, and is the FUEL that keeps the FIRE in our HEARTS burning
disbelief tries to douse it. And 18-year-old Nada Al Bedwawi (read her story on page 20) is another testimony to this fact.
As the Emirati girl holds her country’s flag high and leads the team at the opening ceremony of the summer Olympics at Rio de Janeiro in the early hours of the morning tomorrow, she will not only carry the hopes and pride of her country on her strong and able shoulders, but will reap the fruit of her own perseverance. In those few moments, Nada will prove that all those years she spent fighting cultural prejudice, chipping away at gender stereotypes and honing her own talent in the process were all worth it.
She may or may not find a spot on the victory stand, but for millions of girls in general and aspiring athletes in specific, Nada is a winner.
Here’s wishing Nada all the very best in her life. Let me know what you think of her journey. Until next week,