In the spirit of the Olympics

I've never been much of a sportsman. In fact, I hated PE classes coz I always felt so awkward and uncoordinated. Hockey practise seemed like I was shoveling dirt. Badminton was too wimpy to count as sports. Netball made me feel like a clown.

Growing up with athlete friends made me envy their energy, their health, and their popularity. Things I didn't possess. I was more a bookworm. A loner. A misfit. Heh.

But, in the spirit of the Olympics, I thought about what kind of athlete I'd make. For sure, if I was an athlete, I would definitely fight to be in the Olympic Games. I mean, that's like the Grammy Awards of music, the Oscars of film!

So, when the topic came up between Zane and me, I told him, without hesitation, that if I were an athlete competing in the Olympics, I could definitely see myself kicking ass in the 100m sprint and the 100m butterfly.

I think I may have surprised myself with my own answer and evaluating it, it only became apparent why I would naturally, instinctively, say that.

First off, both events require sudden spurts of energy. They are not long-drawn out affairs like triathlons and relays. There is the element of challenge -- I consider the butterfly stroke as the most difficult in swmming. There is fierce competition because everyone is at the starting line, waiting for the gun to pop. They're not wimpy like archery or shooting. They are popular events with guaranteed audiences. The competitors are individuals and not groups like synchronized swimming and volleyball. To succeed requires physical strength, speed and pure adrenaline, rather than strategy, endurance and wits like the relay events.

In other words, its purely an Arien thing! I want things fast and I want it now. I can't be bothered with anything boring or something that takes too long. I love a good challenge. I like success to depend on my own ability rather than a group's. I love the attention. I like to outdo others, and myself, too.

I rest my case.

And Zane? What Olympic events would he rather compete in? Well, he'd rather not compete. There is not an ounce of one-upmanship in him. And therein lies our difference.

But, if pressed, he would probably go for booger flicking and farting.

That is so Zane! Case closed.