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<blockquote data-quote="Marguerite" data-source="post: 183486" data-attributes="member: 1991"><p>Our Olympics coverage last night was talking about the friendly rivalry between the US mens swim relay team and the Aussies. Your blokes have beaten our blokes but only by a narrow margin each time, in past Olympics. And apparently coming up to t he Sydney Olympics the Aussies heard that the US fellas had said they would "smash the Aussies like guitars". So when the Aussies won in 2000 - they played air guitar on the podium.</p><p></p><p>From what I've seen this is very friendly. I gather there is a lot of respect between the two teams because they are so closely matched.</p><p></p><p>I was watching the news tonight and one of our male Olympic swimmers (might have been Grant Hackett) was being interviewed about Michael Phelps and his good progress so far. Our bloke was saying that only very occasionally, an athlete comes along who changes a sport utterly, because of how good he is. And he said Michael Phelps is one such swimmer. Mark Spitz (7 gold medals at Munich, 1972) was another.</p><p></p><p>I'm glad it's not considered unpatriotic or disloyal to praise athletes from other countries, especially where that praise is deserved. And who better than another athlete, to really understand the intense effort required to compete at this level?</p><p></p><p>I was thinking about this thread earlier today and I want to share a poem with you. You may already know it - it's by an Australian poet, Dame Mary Gilmore. I think it's a very good way to describe how we can still value our own country but without needing to undermine or attack others.</p><p></p><p>Nationality</p><p></p><p>I have grown past hate and bitterness,</p><p>I see the world as one;</p><p>But though I can no longer hate,</p><p>My son is still my son.</p><p></p><p>All men at God's round table sit,</p><p>and all men must be fed;</p><p>But this loaf in my hand,</p><p>This loaf is my son's bread.</p><p></p><p>Dame Mary Gilmore</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Marguerite, post: 183486, member: 1991"] Our Olympics coverage last night was talking about the friendly rivalry between the US mens swim relay team and the Aussies. Your blokes have beaten our blokes but only by a narrow margin each time, in past Olympics. And apparently coming up to t he Sydney Olympics the Aussies heard that the US fellas had said they would "smash the Aussies like guitars". So when the Aussies won in 2000 - they played air guitar on the podium. From what I've seen this is very friendly. I gather there is a lot of respect between the two teams because they are so closely matched. I was watching the news tonight and one of our male Olympic swimmers (might have been Grant Hackett) was being interviewed about Michael Phelps and his good progress so far. Our bloke was saying that only very occasionally, an athlete comes along who changes a sport utterly, because of how good he is. And he said Michael Phelps is one such swimmer. Mark Spitz (7 gold medals at Munich, 1972) was another. I'm glad it's not considered unpatriotic or disloyal to praise athletes from other countries, especially where that praise is deserved. And who better than another athlete, to really understand the intense effort required to compete at this level? I was thinking about this thread earlier today and I want to share a poem with you. You may already know it - it's by an Australian poet, Dame Mary Gilmore. I think it's a very good way to describe how we can still value our own country but without needing to undermine or attack others. Nationality I have grown past hate and bitterness, I see the world as one; But though I can no longer hate, My son is still my son. All men at God's round table sit, and all men must be fed; But this loaf in my hand, This loaf is my son's bread. Dame Mary Gilmore [/QUOTE]
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