Never a Quitter

Olympian Rene Herrera (Photo credit:  InterAksyon.com/Joseph Agcaoili)
   He finished last. The diminutive veteran runner and navyman Rene Herrera was the Filipino representative to the 5000 meters race in the 2012 London Olympic. Kaibahang Butch of the DYRU however related that Herrera was much applauded not because he bested the other 20 runners (although he bested himself in the Heat 1 with a record of 14:44.11) but due to his determination to finish the race even if he is the last man running in the stadium. Such attitude is what a true Olympian has to exemplify. It is not to win, but to take part (cf. Pierre de Coubertin). It is as what Agence France-Presse wrote in July 18, 2008 and I quote, "True Olympic spirit is often found away from gold medalists with their agents and sponsorship deals -- it is found in its purest sense in those that come last." 

Rene Herrera did finish last because he never quits. And because he never quits he comes first to the hearts of men watching in that London stadium. 

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