My family has lived in Lebanon for who knows how long, but as someone who was born and raised in and never been outside of the U.S., I think of myself as obviously American. Even during the hard times in US history that I have lived through (and sometimes feel like I am currently living through), I have usually thought of this place as a welcoming home and my only home. In fact, I always felt more connected to my American nationality than my Lebanese ethnicity. As a result, I often cheer for American athletes in the Olympics. However, I always find myself rooting for Lebanese Olympic athletes when they compete against American ones. I wanted to create this article to shed some light on why, as this may sound strange to some people.
Reason #1: I Feel Sympathy for Lebanese People Watching the Olympics
It is no wonder that American Olympic teams are hard to beat. According to Olympedia, America “has been the dominant country in terms of medals won since the inception of the Games, with a total of 2,976, including 1,180 gold medals.” In the 2022 Winter Olympics, the US won 25 medals, including 9 that were gold. This put the U.S. at an impressive third place between Germany’s 27 medals (12 of which were gold) and Norway’s 37 medals (16 of which were gold).
On the opposite side of the spectrum, as of 2022, Lebanon has won four Olympic medals, two silver and two bronze. The last time Lebanon won an Olympic medal was a bronze during the 1980 Summer Olympics. Two of the other medals were obtained during the 1952 Summer Olympics, onebronze and one silver. Another silver medal was won during the 1972 Summer Olympics. In fact, it seems that none of Lebanon’s medals were won during the Winter Olympics.
For these reasons, my support for Lebanese Olympic athletes is driven more by empathy than confidence. Still, Lebanon’s previous medals prove that victory is possible. This hope—and my desire for Lebanese fans to experience the thrill of victory—keeps me rooting for them, even if it seems unlikely.
Reason #2: I know Lebanese People Who Have Never Seen Their Country Win an Olympic Game
I have many relatives and a close friend who were born and raised in Lebanon, and only some of them were born before 1980. As such, I know plenty of people who have never experienced the joy of watching their country win an Olympic medal. This is a joy that I, as an American, have experienced so much that I sometimes take it for granted. I would like those people to experience that joy at least once in their lives. In fact, Lebanon’s Olympic losing streak would make that moment even more special.