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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
As the world watched the Tokyo Olympics, we saw a surfer helping1 to translate for the surfer who had just won, high-jumping friends agreeing to share a gold medal and two runners falling, then helping each other to the finish line.
In an unusual Olympic Games where competitors spoke2 openly of their mental health, acts of kindness are everywhere. In news photos, the world's most competitive3 athletes appear, showing gentleness and warmth to one another. They are celebrating, giving encouragement and comforting when another faces setbacks.
Kanoa Igarashi is a Japanese-American surfer competing for Japan. He was sad when he came in second place to Brazilian Italo Ferreira in their sport's first-ever Olympic event.
Igarishi had lost the fight for a gold medal on the beach he grew up surfing. The Japanese-American surfer could have suffered in silence, but he instead used his knowledge of Portuguese4. He helped to translate a press conference question for Ferreira.
The crowd laughed hearing the translation from a fellow competitor and an official thanked the silver medalist for the help.
"Yes, thank you, Kanoa," said a beaming5 Ferreira, who is learning6 English. Igarishi's friend, Portuguese surfer Teresa Bonvalot, is also competing in the Olympics.
Sharing a score - and the gold
Days later, at the Olympic Stadium, Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy and Mutaz Barshim of Qatar got into in a situation they had talked about but never experienced7 — they had the same number of points.
Both high jumpers were perfect until the bar was set to the Olympic-record height of 2.39 meters. Each missed three times.
They could have continued to another jump, but instead decided8 to share the gold.
"I know for a fact that for the performance I did, I deserve9 that gold. He did the same thing, so I know he deserved10 that gold," Barshim said. "This is beyond sport. This is the message we deliver to the young generation."
After they decided, Tamberi slapped12 Barshim's hand and jumped into his arms.
"Sharing with a friend is even more beautiful," Tamberi said. "It was just magical."
Earlier, on the same path, runners Isaiah Jewett of the U.S. and Nijel Amos of Botswana fell together during the 800-meter semifinals. Rather than get angry, they helped each other to their feet, put their arms around each other and finished together.
Many top athletes come to know each other personally from their time at competitions around the world. At earlier events, they have watched each other through the best and worst times.
Those feelings have often grown at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games. There is desire for normalcy, and there is enjoyment13 at once again seeing familiar faces.
Like a family
For American Carissa Moore, the pandemic and its restrictions14 brought her closer with the other surfers.
The current world champion said she usually travels to surfing competitions with her husband and father. But all guests were banned from the Olympics this year. Moore said she struggled being at the Games without her family.
Moore lived in a home with the other surfers, including teammate Caroline Marks, Moore's strongest rival15. Moore said she didn't know Marks well before the Tokyo Games. But on the night Moore became the winner and Marks came in fourth, her rival was the first to greet her.
"Having the USA Surf team with me, it's been such a beautiful experience," Moore said. She added that they had become as close as a family.
Norwegian Lotte Miller16 placed 24th in the difficult women's triathlon last week. She took a moment to encourage Belgium's Claire Michel, who had done so poorly that she sat on the ground, crying.
Michel had come in last, 15 minutes behind winner Flora17 Duffy of Bermuda. But she did finish. Fifty-four athletes started the race, but only 34 finished it.
Miller told Michel she is a fighter. "This is Olympic spirit, and you've got it 100 percent."
Words in This Story
athlete - n. a person who is trained in or good at sports, games, or exercises that require physical skill and strength
encouragement -n. something that makes someone more likely to do something
comfort – v. to cause (someone) to feel less worried, upset, frightened
deserve – v. used to say that someone or something should have or be given something
slap11 – v. to hit (someone or something) with the front or back of your open hand
magical – adj. very pleasant or exciting
rival – n. a person or thing that tries to defeat or be more successful than another
![收听单词发音](/images/play.gif)
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helping
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n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的 | |
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spoke
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n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 | |
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3
competitive
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adj.竞争的,比赛的,好竞争的,有竞争力的 | |
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Portuguese
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n.葡萄牙人;葡萄牙语 | |
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beaming
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adj.照耀的;光亮的;喜气洋洋的;愉快的v.发出光与热( beam的现在分词 );面露喜色;播送;1 笑容满面,眉开眼笑 2 发射电波,播送 3 放出束状的光(或热) | |
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learning
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n.学问,学识,学习;动词learn的现在分词 | |
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experienced
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adj.有经验的;经验丰富的,熟练的 | |
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decided
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adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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deserve
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vt.应受,值得;vi. 应受报答,值得受赏 | |
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deserved
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adj.应得的,当然的v.应受,应得,值得( deserve的过去式和过去分词 );应受报答;应得报酬;应得赔偿 | |
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slap
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n.掴,侮辱,拍击声;vt.拍击,侮辱,惩罚,申斥;adv.正面地,直接地,突然地 | |
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slapped
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v.掌击,拍打( slap的过去式和过去分词 );制止;镇压;(尤指生气地)啪的一声放下 | |
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enjoyment
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n.乐趣;享有;享用 | |
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restrictions
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约束( restriction的名词复数 ); 管制; 制约因素; 带限制性的条件(或规则) | |
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rival
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n.竞争对手,敌手;vt.与…相匹敌,比得上 | |
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miller
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n.磨坊主 | |
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flora
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n.(某一地区的)植物群 | |
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