My parents, brother and I spent 2 weeks in and around Montreal caught up in Olympic fever. We saw a wide range of events culminating with the closing ceremonies. When we were not attending events we would hang out at the Olympic park meeting and interacting with people from all over the world. I enjoyed meeting and talking with people. Showing no fear.
One of our favorited places to hang out was the practice track in behind Olympic stadium. It was open to the public. You could sit in the bleachers and watch atheletes practice. One day we sat and watched. To my right was this young muscular black man putting on his running shoes. I walked over to him and asked him what event he was practicing for. He said 400 metre hurdles. I asked what country he was competing for, he said I am Edwin Moses from the USA. Edwin Moses who would only go on to be the greatest hurdler in the world at the time. I regret not getting an autograph. The few minutes of conversation will linger in my memory forever.
Today, we would not be able to get that close to atheletes without tons of security. We were there the night Nadia Comeneci recorded the first perfect score in gymnastics. We were there the final night of swimming when Canadan female swimmers upset the favorite American women to win silver and bronze. The crowd went ballistic. The American swimmers who won medals would toss mini footballs into the crowd.
We saw the men's semi final basketball match between Canada and USA. The Canadians got beaten badly. We saw the women's gold medal match. I can't remember who was playing, What I do remember was seeing not meeting Wilt Chamberlain in the crowd.
We watched the men's gold medal volleyball Match between Soviet Union and Poland. The Soviets were up 2 sets to none and up 11-4 in the third game, seemingly cruising to victory. Poland roared back to win in 5 sets. The game ended at 1:30 in the morning. I didn't know a lot about volleyball, however, sat beside an American who was coaching the national team of Kenya. He taught me over the course of the game all about volleyball and Africa. This game is considered the greatest volleyball match of all time.
We saw lots of track and field and soccer. Some of the atheletes we saw were the great Finnish long distance runner Lasse Viren who after winning the 5,000 and 10,000 meters race ran his first marathon and finished 5th. Just ahead of the best finish by a Canadian in the marathon Jerome Drayton who was 6th.
The great Cuban runner Alberto Juantareno the only person to complete the 200 meter and 400 meter double in Olympic history. The silver medalist in these races was a Belgian runner Ivo Van Damme who was tragically killed in a car accident a few months after the Olympics.
We saw Greg Joy upset the brash Dwight Stones to win silver in the high jump. Saw Bruce/Catlyn Jenner win the decathlon.
We saw the closing ceremonies. In one segment they had nuns from a convent in Montreal form the Olympic Rings. The ring right in front of us was just closing when a young man jumped out of the stands gained access to the ring and took of his clothes and streaked around inside the circle to the shocked looks of the nuns. After all it was the 70's and streakers were prevalent.
Two wonderful weeks, meeting and seeing outstanding atheletes and people. I wanted to still be that innocent young 12 year old who would not be afraid to talk to people. Sadly, a few short years later my life would be shaped in a different direction and that age of innocence would be gone forever.
Every summer Olympics I relive the summer of 1976.
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