Defeat or Temporary Setback?
For years during the opening montage of ABC's weekly Wide World of Sports program, the announcer would say, "the joy of victory...the agony of defeat" and we would see the now famous clip of an unfortunate ski jumper speeding downhill about ready to launch when suddenly something goes very wrong. Traveling at top speed he falls and then tumbles head over heels off the side of the ski jump into a crowd of shocked onlookers.
This took place at the 1970 World Ski Flying Championships in Oberstdorf, West Germany. Weather conditions had been worsening throughout that day as a 22 year old Slovenian ski jumper named Vinko Bogataj began his run. It would take over 10 years for Bogataj to realize just how famous the next 10 seconds of his life would become.
After the fall, an eyewitness said that he wanted to get up and jump again but they made him go to the hospital where they found he had a concussion and a broken ankle. But even while he was still at the hospital he wanted people to know he was okay and that he would be back. Vinko Bogataj had a passion to do something and was willing to risk it all. And he did not quit even after this scary and painful experience.
In 1981 Bogataj was invited to be part of the 20th anniversary celebration for Wide World of Sports. As he was acknowledged during the ceremony he was given a standing ovation from those in attendance. Mohammad Ali was among the first of the many world class athletes to ask Bogataj for his autograph.
So why were these famous and successful athletes so touched by this man? I think it is because he represents much more than the "agony of defeat", he represents the will to get back up after a setback and try again. He decided in that hospital room back in 1970 to define his fall "a temporary setback" and not "a permanent defeat". And about three months later he was ski jumping again. Today Vinko Bogataj is married and has two grown daughters. Occasionally he helps train young ski jumpers and is an award winning artist.
If you are experiencing a temporary setback in your life, I urge you to get back up and keep trying. If your goal was worth trying once it is worth trying again. We can all learn from your perseverance.
Tom Magee