Abrahams Olympic And Personal Stories example essay topic

Sporting events today have become rancorous, angry affairs where the motto, more frequently than not, is "win at all costs". Exhibitions of good sportsmanship are about as rare as selflessness. Everyone is out for themselves, and the displays of athletes like Charles Barkley and Dennis Rodman can sit in the stomach like a chunk of indigestible matter. So it's refreshing to look back at an era when victory didn't demand isolation, bitterness, and hatred of one's rivals. Chariots of Fire, the Oscar-winning 1981 film, transports us to the 1924 Olympics, and, in the process, highlights such commendable qualities as commitment, perseverance, and fraternity. That's not to say that winning isn't important to the competitors in Hugh Hudson's film.

On the contrary, for British track stars Harold Abrahams and Eric Lidell, it's a paramount concern, but neither is so obsessed by their goal that they lose sight of the larger picture. Eric is a devout Christian who runs because he believes it glorifies God. Harold is a Jew who competes as a way of proving his worth. Both are driven by an inner fire, and have nothing but respect for their rivals. Chariots of Fire tells the story of the British triumphs at the 1924 Olympics, where the UK representatives took a number of medals over the heavily favored Americans.

With Abrahams and Lidell leading the way, the British track team had one of their best-ever showings. This film traces the two principal athletes' paths to the Paris games, where their on-field successes form a surprisingly low-key climax. Chariots of Fire doesn't rely on worn-out sports film clich " es; it's more interested in motivation and character development. Yes, it's important to know that Abrahams and Lidell win, but the real meat of the story is contained in what leads up to the races. Like in Sylvester Stallone's first Rocky, it's possible to claim victory before the competition begins. Lidell because he has holds fast to his beliefs and Abrahams because gives all he has to give.

At the time when Chariots of Fire was first released, many of the principal cast members, including Ben Cross, Ian Charles on, Nigel Have rs, and Alice Kri ge, were relative unknowns. All give strong performances, and each was rewarded with future parts in other productions. Some recognizable faces fill supporting roles, including Sir John Gielgud as the Master of Trinity College and Ian Holm as Abraham's mentor, Sam Mussabini. There's barely a whiff of melodrama in Chariots of Fire, which makes the film-watching experience all the more effective director Hugh Hudson shows respect for the integrity of his material and the intelligence of his audience. The absence of mawkish moments provides the narrative with a genuine quality that supports its factual background. Not only do we care about the characters, but also we accept that they really existed.

In fact, the entire production claims that same sense of verisimilitude. Most sports movies rely on nostalgia and adrenaline -- Chariots of Fire stands on strong writing, direction, and acting. Appreciation of this picture doesn't demand a love of sports, merely an understanding of human nature. At the Paris Olympics of 1924, Harold Abrahams won a gold medal in the 100-Meter dash, equaling the Olympic record of 10.6. (He had also clocked 10.6 in his two qualifying heats.) Abrahams, born in Great Britain, was the first non-American to win the event.

He also won a silver medal at the same Olympic Games leading off the 4 x 100-Meter Relay, and finished sixth in the 200-Meter event. Abrahams' Olympic and personal stories were the subject of the Academy Award winning motion picture "Chariots of Fire". One of Cambridge University's all-time great student athletes, Abrahams was selected to the 1920 British Olympic Team. But he couldn't survive the Olympic 100 and 200 meter sprint qualifying heats, had little success in the long jump, and his 4 x 100-meter relay team finished sixth. His Cambridge track successes, nonetheless, continued as the 1924 Olympics approached. Hoping to vindicate himself from what he considered his 1920 debacle, Abrahams hired a coach to prepare him for Olympic rigors.

It was the first time a British amateur athlete had paid for personal training. The controversial action paid off as Abrahams shattered England's long jump and 100-meter sprint records before tying the Olympic 100-meter mark enroute to his gold medal. A broken leg cut short Abrahams' competitive career one year after the l 924 Olympiad. Nonetheless, he further distinguished himself as a sports journalist, broadcaster, and leader of Great Britain's amateur sports establishment.

Like in Sylvester Stallone's first Rocky, it's possible to claim victory before the competition begins -- Lidell because he has holds fast to his beliefs and Abrahams because gives all he has to give. Chariots of Fire retells the true story of Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams, two men driven by a need to run. Both exhibit unbelievable speed, train religiously and share a passion to compete in the 1924 Olympics. But there's a deeper issue.

What begins as a classic conflict of man against man evolves into a study of inner strength, as the two must find victory in being true to their own hearts and convictions? A cocky Englishman, Abrahams bests all runners at Cambridge. He dismisses the notion of "second place", convinced that any man who doesn't break the tape is a failure. Liddell, on the other hand, is a committed Christian. This local hero "runs for God" and works at his family's mission in Scotland. Even more impressive than his athletic prowess is the way he competes.

When knocked down in a race, he doesn't complain or point fingers. He perseveres. After winning a contest in France, Liddell trades glory and applause for an opportunity to preach the gospel to fans and reporters. In 1981, Chariots of Fire captured four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It boasts no stars.

There's a noticeable absence of big-budget special effects. But for families interested in a film with heart, character and a respect for one man's faith in God, it remains one of the most spiritually uplifting motion pictures ever made. Leaders always have charisma, which can be simply defined as likeability. People initially look to leaders because they, well, like them. The leader has some qualities which others find fascinating, which inspire hope and which make people want to excel. Leaders have very important qualities.

Perhaps the most important is a complete lack of fear in their areas of competence. For example, if I believe that there is even the possibility of unlicensed software running somewhere, I will immediately perform an audit, and may even call in an outside firm if necessary. I don't care if I have the "authority" or not, I am not afraid of the consequences at all - it would be unethical and intolerable to allow unlicensed software to exist in the same workplace as myself. To communicate well, you need honesty, good judgment and common sense. Being articulate in the conventional sense is actually less important.

And that may sound funny, because if you " re in my position, or if you " re a project manager, you do get called upon to do a lot of presentations and speeches in front of large groups. But the fact is, someone who understands his or her role, who has thought logically about the processes and can communicate them well is much more effective than someone who is super-articulate but is an empty suit and doesn't really understand. This movie shows many different types of leadership, it is an example of how athletes should be. Committed to the sport that they love and in the sport they love for all the right reasons.