You don't get to the Olympics without a considerable amount of dedication and perseverance. You just don't.
In our anthology, these obstacles run the gamut from political persecution, racial prejudice, and mental illness, to poverty, to life-threatening diseases. Whether our athletes overcame dyslexia or a childhood of forced soldiery, they're survivors of a grueling process that weeds out anyone but the most devoted.
And even then, they often faced even greater battles outside of the Olympic arena…which is why perseverance would most definitely be their Sesame Street word of the day.
Questions About Perseverance
- Why is perseverance a necessary quality for an Olympian to have? Do you think mental or physical perseverance is more important to these athletes?
- Are there any commonalities about what each Olympian had to overcome to compete?
- What are some examples of when persistence failed the athletes?