Being On The World Stage

BEING ON THE WORLD STAGE can sometimes cause athletes to melt under the pressure. But Hiroyasu Shimizu stayed cool as ice to bring glory to himself and Japan at the 1998 Nagano Games.

The 23-year-old speed skater took up the sport at age three. Eventually coaching duties fell to his father, Hitoshi, but the elder Shimizu died of cancer when Hiroyasu was only 17.

Despite losing his coach and parent, the Japanese skater continued to improve. In 1996, he set the world record in the 500 meters with a time of 35.39.

On the final day of the 500-meter Olympic competition, the quest for the gold intensified. Canada’s Jeremy Wotherspoon moved from seventh to first place by clocking a 35.80.

Shimizu skated in the final pair of the day. Bolstered by the Japanese crowd, including Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako, the racer broke his own Olympic record with a time of 35.59 seconds.

Tears of joy cascaded down Hiroyasu’s face as he completed a victory lap. Fans snatched up thousands of newspapers that declared Shimizu a national hero, and television stations replayed the race over and over.

EXTRA < < < < < < < < < < < < < <

POINT This gold-medal athlete deserved to cry through the victory lap and on the medal stand. Tears reflect great emotion, both sadness and happiness. Surely Hiroyasu cried happy tears over his medal-winning performance. But those tears also showed his sadness because his father-coach wasn’t there to share the gold.

People frequently say, “Big boys don’t cry.” The Olympics show another picture. And the Bible speaks differently too. Tears of sadness often lead to joy. Joy frequently results in wonderful tears. After all, God made our emotions. When we cry or when we laugh, we’re reflecting the fullness of God.

GOAL! Think of the last time you cried. Was it because of pain, sadness, happiness, or sorrow? Praise God for turning tears into joyful laughter.