The Race of Honor: Choosing integrity Over Victory

 


Do you remember the Kenyan runner Abel Mutai, who was just a few feet from the finish line but became confused by the signage and stopped, thinking he had completed the race? A Spanish runner, Ivan Fernandez, was right behind him and realized what was happening. He started shouting at the Kenyan to continue running, but Mutai didn't know Spanish and didn't understand. Fernandez then pushed Mutai to victory.

 

A journalist asked Ivan, "Why did you do that?" Ivan replied, "My dream is that someday we can have a kind of community life where we push and help each other to win."

 

The journalist asked again, "But why did you let the Kenyan win?" Ivan replied, "I didn't let him win; he was going to win. The race was his." The journalist persisted, "But you could have won!" Ivan looked at him and replied, "But what would be the merit of my victory? What honor would there be in that medal? What would my mother think of that?"

 

Values are passed down from generation to generation. What value re we teaching our children?

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