More people than ever probably know who Simone Biles is. To many, she’s either the successful Olympic and world champion gymnast who needed to step away from recent competition in Tokyo due to some issues she was dealing with, or she’s the overhyped gymnast who quit on her team when things got tough.
Tag: olympics
Why Olympics are important today
Ever since I was in the fifth grade — when we finally got a television set in our home — I have enjoyed watching the Olympics.
Since our daughter was a competitive figure skater for many years (and I am still a member of the Figure Skating Club of Madison), I have especially looked forward to the Winter Olympics to watch figure skating. I also watch some of the other events.
I believe the Olympics continue to be important in our world today.
Youth are sign of hope
After he returned from World Youth Day held in Poland, Pope Francis said at his general audience at the Vatican that in a world traumatized by war, young people gathered for World Youth Day gave strong signs of hope and brotherhood.
World Youth Day was a “prophetic sign for Poland and Europe” and took on a “global dimension” in a world threatened by war, Pope Francis said.
Luke Voegeli from Sun Prairie is only luge athlete in training from Wisconsin
SUN PRAIRIE — When Luke Voegeli watched the 2014 Winter Olympics, he developed an interest in the luge competition.
It might have been because luge, which takes its name from the French word for sled, is one of the fastest Olympic sports, with riders exceeding 90 miles per hour.
“I had always liked the sport. But it was in 2014 when something sparked for me,” said Luke, 14, in an interview.
A lifelong resident of Sun Prairie, Luke is the son of Jane and Nick Voegeli, members of Sacred Hearts Parish in Sun Prairie. Luke, a high school freshman, is homeschooled by his parents.
A real hero: New York boy’s actions inspire all of us to help others
Many of us are watching the Winter Olympics these days, and we’re inspired by the years of dedication and hard work it takes for athletes to compete on the world stage. Those who win medals often return home to their respective countries as heroes.
While we can applaud these athletes for their accomplishments, the recent story of an eight-year-old boy from upstate New York captured my attention as a real hero.
Boy saves relatives while losing his own life
Tyler Doohan was visiting his grandfather in his mobile home in Penfield, N.Y., on January 20 because his school was off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Reportedly, Tyler woke up at about 4:45 a.m. when the blanket covering his sleeping four-year-old cousin caught fire, according to Chris Ebmeyer, chief of the volunteer fire company in Penfield.
Tyler then woke up six of his relatives and helped them escape from the enflamed mobile home. He then ran back into the home where his 57-year-old grandfather was sleeping. His grandfather used a wheelchair and crutches after having a leg amputated due to complications of diabetes. The firefighters found Tyler’s body just a few feet from his grandfather’s. The boy’s uncle was also found dead in another part of the trailer.
Tyler saved the lives of six people. “They all would have died if he hadn’t woken up,” said Ebmeyer. All six survivors suffered minor injuries, including Tyler’s grandmother, two children, two other women, and a man.
I can’t image many other eight-year-olds having the courage to do what Tyler did. It was truly an act of caring and heroism.