I’m here because I said “No”

They say that life can only be understood backwards but it has to be lived forwards.

Who are they? I don’t know but I think they are on to something. Now that I have started saying, “No” to opportunities, I realize that major changes in my life have occurred because I said, “No,” when everyone assumed I would say “Yes”.

I said “No” to the Olympics

I had won the world championships and then I retired. I wanted to be best in the world and I was.

In 1980, the U.S. and its allies boycotted the Olympics. In 1984, Russia and its allies boycotted. In 1988, women’s judo was in the Olympics but as a demonstration sport, so only the top eight in the world competed — no chance for any upset victories. This is not meant as any disrespect to anyone who medalled in any of those Olympics, hey, you beat everyone who showed up, which is all anyone can do. Still, for me, I knew I would have always wondered, “What if all of the countries had come? Would I have still won?”

You’ll never convince me that you don’t resent not getting to go to the Olympics.

– A grumpy old coach

This conversation amused me because, first of all, I seldom feel the need to convince anyone of anything and, secondly, he was 100% wrong. I have never regretted not going to the Olympics for half of a second. During the four years I did not train for Seoul, I had two more children…