My Olympic Dream

Do you remember year 1956?

There were many important evets that year - Khrushchev's revelation of Stalin's crimes, Suez crisis, Hungarian revolution.

But I most vividly remember the Melbourne Olympic Games. Reports from Melbourne Games, written by the best Polish sport journalist, changed me into a sport fan.

And at the same time, I felt some sadness. I felt that although I was only 15, I already lost some lifetime chance. I felt, that Melbourne Games were the best ever. That even if I would become an Olympian one day, there will be no such good games any more.

So what a surprize it was when 27 years later I landed in Melbourne and everyday I could see the impressive structure of Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the main arena of Melbourne Olympic Games. And 20 years later I learned about Run to the G - fun run with finish at MCG.

Hey! - I said to myself - isn't Australia called a country of the second chance?

I can fulfill the dream which I haven't dared to dream when I was 15 years old. I can run in streets of Melbourne and finish at MCG, like marathon runners in 1956 Olympic Games.

The distance was 10 km. I was already hardened in endurance sports, but running was never my strong side. So I ran slowly enjoying green parks on banks of river Yarra. Finally I approached Melbourne Cricket Ground, down the entrance tunnel and I was surrounded by gigantic tribunes - empty. But for me they were occupied by my heroes - Bobby Morrow, Vladimir Kutz, Emil Zatopek and our Polish star - Ela Krzesinska.