What is the most amazing Olympic moment? Originally answered on May 1st, 2016.
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We Norwegians tend to dominate the Winter Olympic games. We rake in medals in most winter sports, and it gets kind of boring for the rest of the world. While there have been many occasions in which the podium is littered with only Norwegian athletes, we never really excelled at the Summer Olympics. Which makes sense considering we live in a snowy and cold country, right?
London, 2012.
The Summer Olympics kicks off, and Norway has nothing to look forward to. In order to at least have a few Norwegian representatives, we send a 25-year-old high school math teacher to compete in fencing.
His name is Bartosz Piasecki, and he is a Polish born Norwegian ranked as only the 47th best in the world.
His first match is against the Frenchman Gauthier Grumier, who is the 12th best fencer in the world. Bartosz wins 14-13. In the next round, Bartosz faces Geza Imre from Hungary. Bartosz wins again!
The quarter-final. Bartosz against Yannick Borel, the 7th best in the world. It starts off rough. Borel is dominating. He is up 4-0. Things are not looking good. Bartosz, the math teacher, steps up his game. He turns it around. He wins 15-14. He is in the semi-final. Norway is going nuts. There has never been a Norwegian in the semi-final in fencing before. In fact, Norway's best achievement in fencing is 11th place from 1984.
In the semi-final, Bartosz meets South Korean Jinsun Jung. The Korean is ranked as the 15th best in the world. NRK, the Norwegian national TV broadcaster, postpones all shows to make room for the semi-final. All of Norway is watching. Nails are being bitten. The match starts. It's close. It's really close. The Korean is good. Points are given both ways. We have no idea who would come out on top, but Bartosz does it. He wins 15-13. He is in the final. Bartosz falls to the floor and shouts in triumph.
At this point, Norway is already celebrating. Bartosz is guaranteed a top-3 position and an Olympic medal. Our best ever achievement in fencing. We don't care if Bartosz will win the final or not. He is already a hero. A national hero. Forever remembered in Norwegian sports history.
We have no expectations for the final, and with good reason. Bartosz will face world number 1 Ruben Limardo from Venezuela. But we still have a glimmer of hope. Can Bartosz, the math teacher, the underdog, cause another upset? Every street in Norway is deserted. Everyone is at home watching.
The final starts off and it's brutal. Limardo is fast. He is on fire. On another level. After the 2nd period, Limardo is up 12-6. He needs 3 points to seal the gold medal. The 3rd period starts. Limardo takes 2 points. He needs 1 more to win. Bartosz fights back. He takes 4 points in a row. Bartosz is showing what got him to the final. Limardo is frustrated. Norwegians everywhere are rising up from their seats. Will he make it? But then Limardo takes another point and wins.
Norwegians who are watching—in their homes, at the bar, wherever—are giving Bartosz a standing ovation. Bartosz Piasecki, the 25-year-old high school math teacher who entered the competition as number 47, has just fought his way all the way to the final and sealed the Olympic silver medal in fencing.
An incredible achievement. An unforgettable moment in Norwegian Olympic history.
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