It is a unique environment where everyone is equal. But even then, the waves seem to part for certain superstars. For Liu Xiang, for Usain Bolt, for Simone Biles... for Neeraj Chopra?
At the Doha Asian Games in 2006, China's Liu was the master of all he surveyed. He was the Olympic champion in the 110m hurdles, the Asian champion, the world record holder and the man who had proved to the world that "Asians can run very fast". People thronged around him, hoping that some of the magic could rub off on them too.
At London in 2012, sprint legend Bolt was a star and everyone else a fan. When he had walked into the Village, he was greeted with whoops and yelps from the hundreds of fellow Olympians who clearly recognised that the Jamaican is first among equals.
He even enlisted three of his Jamaican teammates, including a hulking discus thrower and a shot putter, to help him negotiate the crowd of well-wishers at the Village.
At Rio 2016, Biles won four gold medals and one bronze medal. She wasn't very well known at the start of the Games but in the closing ceremony, she found it difficult to manoeuvre her way through the crowd due to the persistent selfie requests. Everyone wanted a photo with her.
Neeraj hasn't attained the same kind of stardom yet but going by the scenes at the athletes' village in Hangzhou, he is mighty close. He is the reigning Olympic champion. He is the world champion. And there is no one else like him in the village. Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim is a reigning Olympic high jump champion but he finished third at the Worlds. Bahrain's Winfred Yavi is the 3000m steeplechase world champion but is yet to compete at the Olympics. Here's a guy at the very top of the pyramid.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 30, 2023-Ausgabe von Hindustan Times.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 30, 2023-Ausgabe von Hindustan Times.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Palestinian PM Resigns Citing 'New Reality' Of War In Gaza
The United States and other powers have called for a reformed Palestinian Authority to take charge of all Palestinian territories after the end of war
Future Perfect: The Kids Are All Right
Gill and Jurel hold out promise by simplifying a challenging chase to help India seal series
Akshay feels 'blessed' to have worked with OG Ramayan cast
Director Akshay K Agarwal shot a music video, Humare Ram Aaye Hai, with the cast of the 1987 TV show, Ramayanactors Arun Govil, Dipika Chikhlia and Sunil Lahri - in Ayodhya recently.
Musk's firm gets nod for Sat Net; joins Jio, Bharti
Starlink, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, has been allowed to offer satellite broadband services in India, two officials aware of the development said.
A temple, 169 years in the making
Through decades of design and reworks, hurdles in engineering and construction, HT pieces together how the grandeur of the Ram Temple was reclaimed
'Political interference' forces Vihari to quit Andhra cricket
After Andhra bowed out of the Ranji Trophy at the quarter-final stage with a four-run defeat to Madhya Pradesh in Indore on Monday, senior batter Hanuma Vihari launched a scathing attack on the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA), saying he will never turn up for the state again.
Shafali, Kapp lead Capitals to a 9-wicket win over Warriorz
A blazing fifty by Shafali Verma (64₹, 43 balls) helped Delhi Capitals make a mockery of a target of 120 and open their account in the second edition of the Women's Premier League (WPL).
Making 'unbelievable things believable', the Ayhika way
The India No. 7 was an inspired pick for the world team event and she repaid the faith, beating the Chinese world No.1
'Connected TVs to reach 45 mn by 2024-end in India'
With improvement in broadband penetration, Indian households are increasingly opting for connected or addressable TVs.
India chip strategy makes progress as $21 billion in proposals received
The Indian government, after years of watching from the sidelines of the chips race, now has to evaluate $21 billion of semiconductor proposals and divvy up taxpayer support between foreign chipmakers, local champions or some combination of the two.