Defining Winning at the JCC Maccabi Games and Access
From the Desk of Martin Reichgott, Director of Philanthropy. Martin served as Co-Commissioner for Swimming at this year’s recently completed JCC Maccabi Games and Access in Tucson.
The definition of winning changes throughout the four days of competition at Maccabi. Most swimmers came to race and earn medals, immediately checking their rankings in events and comparing times against competitors they’ve never met before. Some brought highly technical suits to shave valuable tenths and hundredths from their times. By the end of the first day, the top level of athletes already knew their competition, who was swimming fast or exceeding their seed times.
Some swimmers do win, a lot. By the end of the four days, they can recreate the iconic Mark Spitz pose with seven (or more) medals draped proudly from their necks. They loosen up and have fun on the awards stand, maybe even biting the gold medals for the camera.
The evolution really starts with relay participation. Maccabi requires that relay teams be comprised of mixed delegations. This means spectators might see Ukraine/Israel/Miami Beach/Toronto race against Staten Island/Philadelphia/Dallas/Atlanta. It can be disconcerting for swimmers used to racing with teammates. It then evolves into trying to create the fastest relays. By Day 3, swimmers are asking to be put together with their new friends. By Day 4, there’s a conscious effort, led by the athletes, to prioritize swimmers who have not medaled individually.
And individual recognition changes, too. In addition to racing medals, Maccabi supplies medals for midot, the values that reflect the greater mission of the games: to make the world a better place and to make ourselves a better people. Nominations can come from any participant, and the applause was louder for those recognized by their peers. One swimmer looked shocked, and then beamed uncontrollably, as his lev tov, big heart, was recognized for, really, being a mensch. Another was recognized for ga’ava, pride in claiming her space and reaching her full potential; the Canadian athlete completed her first swim meet ever, at Maccabi, without a personal coach on deck during the competition.
I had a conversation with a dad from Los Angeles whose swimmer had already earned several medals by Day 2. He shared that he had been a member of the Soviet National volleyball program where it was dangerous to share that you were Jewish. They had never heard of the Maccabi Games before this year. While he cheered his daughter’s swimming, he had cried during the opening ceremony, where athletes could share their Jewish pride in public. His daughter had already asked for Hebrew lessons when they returned home.
By Day 4, swimmers were almost unrecognizable by delegation. Trading gear meant that an Israeli swimmer now wore a Colorado shirt and Phoenix hat on the medal stand. Almost every award photo ended in three athletes standing together in a group hug. An individual sport had evolved into a group celebration.
These athletes should carry their medals proudly. But the short term high of the times and placings will fade. The stories of the friends made will live longer, as will the adventures in Tucson, AZ. These Jewish teens are winners, and we celebrate them all.