On a hot summer day, Susanna Johnsen ‘25 sits down on her couch and turns on the Olympics. She is immediately enthralled by the roaring crowds, heart-warming moments and exciting atmosphere of the games. Even though she watches professional sports from time to time, the Olympics felt special, and for the two weeks during which the Olympics occurred, Johnsen felt a sense of connection and unity throughout the world.
For Johnsen, the Olympics have always been a way to feel connected to the world and a source of nostalgia. She did gymnastics when she was young, and although she has since stopped, the Olympics brought her back to a time when she was passionate about gymnastics and rekindled that flame of inspiration she felt when watching.
“I feel nostalgic when watching the Olympics because I remember watching the 2016 Olympics with Simone Biles,” Johnsen said. “I’ve been there from the beginning, so watching it every year gives me such a nostalgic feeling for my childhood.”
Along with the sentimentality of the Olympics, Johnsen feels that the games are intense but spirited competition. She recognizes that it is an awe-inspiring event that brings people together.
“I think the Olympics are a lot more patriotic [than professional sports]; a lot of people get into it because it’s our country and we want to win,” Johnsen said. “The short period of time [gets people invested], [since] it’s only over two weeks, so you get really invested and watch it every day.”
Jake Bash ‘27 identifies as a big sports fan. He plays basketball and pickleball but he loves watching any sport. As a Los Angeles Clippers basketball and Tennessee Titans football fan, Bash grew up in a sports household, frequently watching games with his dad. However, when it comes to the Olympics, Bash enjoys watching it a lot more than a typical NBA game.
“In the Olympics, everyone is just so much more together,” Bash said. “Because our country is being represented, and the athletes feel more like a family, more of a brotherhood. So it’s super cool to watch. I also think the Olympics are more broadcasted in general and all over Instagram [and] that makes people want to go check it out.”
Comparable to Bash, Guy Franklin ‘25 is heavily invested in professional baseball. As a long-time Dodgers fan, Franklin is well-versed in the culture and atmosphere of professional sports. When watching the Olympics this summer, Franklin realized that the environment of the games can be far more positive than traditional sports.
“In Olympic sports, the fan [thing] to do is be polite with the US sports,” Franklin said. “The whole point is to get hyped [for the Olympics]. I feel more [connected] to the Dodgers, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not rooting for Team USA every single chance I get.”
According to Travis Taee Oh’s 2021 Psychology Today article, the Olympics bring a strong sense of social connectedness. Seventh-grade English teacher Brandon Verdi is most interested in watching college football when it comes to sports. Being from Michigan, he and his family have always been huge Michigan fans. He feels the Olympics are more entertaining to watch as it has been a global tradition.
“The Olympics force a shift in perspective because they’re a global phenomenon. They bring the entire world together,” Verdi said. “It’s this one moment that happens every couple of years where the world puts aside whatever division is occurring, and people focus on what is great about humanity by pushing the limits of what’s possible. It gives people a reason to connect and have a healthy sense of competition, outside our local sports teams.”
Spanish teacher Sabrina Pozzi feels the Olympics bring a sense of unity and passion. Unlike in pro sports, she believes there is a friendly atmosphere among the fans. She feels strong emotions when watching the athletes in the Olympics perform and has thoroughly enjoyed her experience of watching the games.
“I think it’s fascinating,” Pozzi said. “All these different countries competing to be number one and I think it’s so cool because it’s a different level of competition. It gives [athletes] an opportunity to rise and shine. That’s why it’s friendlier [than pro sports]. I think watching the Olympics is much kinder; I think watching [pro] sports is when it can be more aggressive.”
Pozzi feels that the Olympics bring everyone together. Although she occasionally watches professional sports such as tennis, she believes that the Olympics are a wider way for athletes to be showcased and cultivate a more positive and inclusive environment.
“The high level of competition and how everybody was there for this two-week time is fun,” Pozzi said. “The [summer] Olympics comes around once every four years, and it [fosters] camaraderie and patriotism. It’s just cool; it gives me goosebumps, just thinking about it. Here is this time that we can come together and watch greatness.”
