I didn't understand how the Olympic games could affect people in this way. To a young boy, finding his way in the world, it simply didn't make sense that the outcome of a race could lift people up in ecstatic rapture or leave them utterly deflated. It was during the men's 3000m, on Saturday night, that I began to exhibit symptoms similar to that of my mother's. I began to feel tense and restless as the race went on, lap after lap.
And then it happened.
I found myself bouncing on the sofa, clenching my fists and snarling at the television. "Come on! Come on!" I Could feel tears in my eyes and my heart was punching it's way out of my chest as an historic gold medal was won for Great Britain. Now I know what my mum was getting so worked up about all those years ago.
