At a critical moment with just three months to go before the Paris Olympics, the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul was hit by severe flooding. In the face of the disaster, the two Brazilian athletes made an admirable choice: they let go of their Olympic dreams and threw themselves into rescue operations to help their compatriots.
In Rio Grande do Sul, floods have claimed many homes, even lives. Against this backdrop, rowers Evaldo Becker and Pedro Tuchtenhagen, two athletes who were expected to make their mark at the Olympics, made a difficult decision. They chose to give up their Olympic dreams and join the ranks of volunteers to save their neighbors who were stranded.
Their feelings are mixed, the Olympics are their lifelong dream, and in the face of disaster, they have chosen greater responsibility. Tuchtenhagen said: "The Olympics are our lifelong dream and today we can't see the country in trouble, we choose to stay out of it. These words are full of deep affection for his hometown and love for his compatriots.
The Guaiba River burst its banks, flooding the streets of the state capital, Porto Alegre, and interrupting their training. Instead of giving up, they began a new "training" - to help distribute donations and save families and pets. "I didn't think much of it, it was my last chance to play in the Olympics," Becker said. But the flood took away my dreams as much as it took my life. ”
Swimmer Vivian Jungbrut, who has already qualified for the open water competition, also withdrew from the competition to devote herself to rescue and recovery operations. World and Olympic surfing champion Italo Ferreira, as well as Brazil's Olympic men's judo team coach Antonio Carlos Kico Pereira, also joined the rescue effort. Despite the evacuation plan proposed by the Brazilian Olympic Committee, they chose to stay in Rio Grande do Sul and face the disaster together with the people of their homeland.
In addition, former Olympic athletes also volunteered to help. Gymnast Diane dos Santos and former Olympic swimmer Nicolás Santos joined the rescue operation. Their actions are the best interpretation of the Olympic spirit.
Floods in Rio Grande do Sul have killed 113 people, 146 unaccounted for and displaced more than 300,000 people, according to Civil Protection. The water level of the Guaiba River has dropped for a while, the rains are still continuing, and more flooding is likely in the coming days.
The choices of these athletes allow us to see the greatest brilliance of human nature. They gave up their personal honor and chose to stand with the people affected by the disaster. Their actions are the best interpretation of the Olympic spirit and the best proof of the spirit of human solidarity and mutual assistance.
In the face of disaster, the choices of these Brazilian athletes show the brightest side of human nature. Their actions are the best interpretation of the Olympic spirit and the best proof of the spirit of human solidarity and mutual assistance.
They gave up their personal honor and chose to stand with the people affected by the disaster. This spirit deserves to be learned and respected by each and every one of us. Whether or not they can return to the Olympics, they are already true heroes.