Going for the gold isn't what it's always about

It's probably just the hormones, but I was almost moved to tears at the pairs' figure skating performance of Zhang and Zhang on Monday evening. I had recorded it and only watched it yesterday afternoon, but I had to show Casey what had happened as well. That kind of heart and determination has to be shared!

In case you didn't see the competition, I'll sum up what happened. I myself have not ever really followed a Winter Olympics -- maybe just glanced at some of the figure skating -- until now. I figured I would have the time to watch some of the events and to really take it all in, and I thought this would be the time, because in four years I'll have a small boy (and maybe another baby by then?) taking up my Olympic-watching time!

The Russians had a very good lead, and two of the three Chinese teams had taken second and third. Zhang and Zhang were the third Chinese team and final pair of the night to compete. Because there is a new scoring system in figure skating this time around, figure skaters now must add a lot more crazy technical stuff in to get the points they need to win. Zhang and Zhang were leading their routine off with something never performed in a competition: a throw quad salchow...don't ask me to explain it, because I can't. The most I know is that there should be four rotations. Otherwise, go to Google!

They are an amazing pair, but when Zhang Hao threw Zhang Dan through the air, she landed with her skate buckling beneath her and immediately crashed onto her knees and slid into the wall. It was a horrible moment, so painful -- and you could see the excruciating pain on her face as she stood up and tried to move. Zhang Hao came up beside her and supported her until they reached their trainer. The music had stopped and everyone waited to see what would happen next.

I was aghast -- surely along with others -- when the pair made the decision within just a couple of minutes to continue their routine! And this was when the hormones must have kicked in, because I became pretty emotional, almost to tears, just watching them perform and how amazingly she skated through that pain. It was just wonderful. The best part came when the points were tallied, and Zhang and Zhang were awarded the silver medal. That is the kind of Olympic story I like to see.