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Now that this quadrennial's blockbuster Olympics is winding down, it's interesting to note that there has been an increased range of diversity in our world's athletes. It's been especially affirming to see the unbelievably fit 41 year-old Dara Torres competing yet again and even bagging some heavy metal home. You REALLY go girl! (Hmmm, I wonder if I have a chance? Synchronized swimming, perhaps? More like synchronized shopping! I think I better stick to my knitting.)

The world of sports at this hyper-elite level just lends itself to youth but the strong, the motivated, the disciplined simply defy these age barriers. Take Oksana Chusovitina, the 33 year-old gymnast tumbling amidst a sea of densely muscled pre-pubescents. From Uzbekistan, Oksana had to migrate to Germany to seek urgent life-saving medical care for her leukemia-stricken son. Now representing Germany in her 5th Olympics, she does gymnastics to care for her son who is now cured. "I don't know how she does it," said U.S. gymnast Alicia Sacramone, one of the medal favorites in the vault. "I'm 20 and my back hurts, my knees hurt, I think I have arthritis. She's a role model to so many of us."

There have been other incredibly inspiring athletic feats like the ocean swimmer Natalie DuToit who made her Olympic debut as the first amputee competitor. OK?! Not to be defeated by a devastating road accident, she swam her heart out and eventually into the world's hearts and minds.

As much as Michael Phelps' Herculean once-in-a-lifetime achievement, Usain Bolt's lightning fast sprints and the US Redeem Team's newfound team spirit are much heralded for their world-record shattering performances and eyeball goggling exploits, there are many more athletes in these games that have found little to no air time or even worse, featured in the agonies of defeat. Lolo Jones's stumbling into the 9th hurdle in track and Sanya Richards' running out of gas in races that were theirs are so devastating after years and years of training for a global competition that lasts less than a minute. The drama of these games truly runs the gamut and is representative of the human range of achievement, emotion, grace and heroic ability to stand up and try again.

We live in SoCal, a geography outlined with sun-drenched beaches. Channel your inner May-Treanor or Dallhauser and spike a few volleyballs in your own backyard. So, you don't think you can come to the gym today? Feeling a bit tired? You think you're too old to try that Spin class? Think again. You can do it. Natalie DuToit did it with one leg. We are all human in all our glorious diverse forms and we can all achieve.


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