Thrilling. My husband and I were standing in our living room yelling for Mara Abbott, American cyclist competing in the 2016 Rio Olympics Women’s Road Race on Sunday afternoon. The 85 mile endurance competition was coming to an end and she was within only a few miles of the finish line. The leader had wiped out on a downhill in the misty weather that made the roads slick and Abbott now had a 30 second lead over the group of 3 bikers behind her.
Watching the race live, we couldn’t leave the room. In fact, we couldn’t stand still. Hearts pounding,all we could do was yell at the tv screen, hoping and praying that Abbott was able to give all she had to the finish. With Olympic fans on the side of the road cheering her on, Mara grabbed a nutrition bar in the pocket of her shirt to replenish her energy as she pedaled the last few miles of the race.
You could see her pace gradually slowing, while her face stayed determined. The group of 3 cyclists were gaining ground and the 30 second lead quickly dwindled. Abbott had been riding many miles alone, with no partnering cyclist to draft. Almost 4 straight hours of riding at an average of more than 21 miles per hour…I can only imagine the exhaustion she was having to override, the momentum she was trying to maintain, the confidence she was trying to muster.
With only 100 meters left to reach the finish line, the Netherlands cyclist sprinted past her accelerating faster than I could have ever imagined after 85 fast paced miles, followed by the cyclists from Sweden and Italy. Abbott’s fatigued limbs pedaled through the finish line. Fourth.
The cameras rushed the Gold Medal Winner, van der Breggen. She basked in her glory and rightfully so. Abbott, still on her bike, buried her head in the arms of her support people that surrounded her. I really have no idea what she felt or the deep, tormenting emotion that overwhelmed her- who has been so close to gold, only to have it swiped away? But I do know that I was absolutely heartbroken for her.
What is it like to give your all and come up short? What does it feel like to barely grasp a gold medal dangling ahead of you only to see it hang around someone else’s neck minutes later? What is it like to find out that you dug deep, pressed in, gave everything, pushed through pain, and it wasn’t enough? At least, not that time. She didn’t medal. Abbott placed 4th. There is no glory in 4th. There is no recognition.
Interestingly, I think that a lot of us know what it feels like to be 4th. Maybe not the extreme emotion of losing a gold medal, or any medal, in a matter of seconds, but I think that most of us can identify with an experience or two when we have given, sacrificed, dug deep, and it wasn’t enough. Maybe you were doing everything right but the results didn’t transpire. Maybe you sacrificed personal time and went the extra mile, only to watch someone else gain recognition, affirmation and promotion. Maybe you have been dedicated, consistent, and focused, but your efforts don’t seem to get noticed. Maybe you are looking for someone to partner with and share the draft, but no one seems to want to come alongside. Maybe your best efforts have been blindsided by someone else or something else.
Fourth really isn’t fun. It’s not glamorous or the title that anyone really wants. But fourth shows that you put your dreams to action. Fourth place demonstrates that you created a plan and went after it. Fourth place proves that you were brave.
Today, I want to celebrate all of our 4th place finishes. I want to congratulate all of you for staying in the game instead of letting off the gas. I want to honor you for persevering through the blood, sweat and tears. I want to praise your achievements, even if the media, friends or even family don’t notice. You know. And, you are aware of what you have given and the heart with which you gave.
And it was enough.
TRUTH: Being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience.