I take any opportunity I can to raise our country's flag really

Hear the voice of Kirsty Coventry, the great Olympian of Zimbabwe, who spoke with pride and devotion: “I take any opportunity I can to raise our country’s flag really high and get some shining positive light on things over there.” In these words there is no boast of self, no hunger for riches, but a flame of loyalty to land and people. To raise the flag is not merely to wave cloth upon a pole; it is to lift the spirit of a nation, to declare before all nations, “Here is who we are, here is what we stand for.” Coventry’s words are a hymn of patriotism, spoken with the humility of one who sees herself as a vessel of honor for her country.

The ancients knew this spirit well. The Greeks, when they ran in the stadion or wrestled in the dust, did not compete for gold alone. They sought the crown of olive that would bring glory to their city-state. Each victory in Olympia was not just for the athlete, but for Athens, Sparta, or Corinth. Likewise, Coventry swam not only for her own triumph, but for Zimbabwe, carrying the hopes of her people into the waters of the world. Her victories were not hers alone—they were shining positive light cast upon a nation often clouded by hardship.

This is the meaning of her words: that individual greatness is sanctified when it uplifts the collective. A medal around the neck is precious, but it becomes eternal when it reflects the pride of a people. To raise the country’s flag is to transform personal achievement into a beacon, to give a story of hope where despair might dwell, to inspire the young who look upon it and whisper, “If she can, then I can.”

Consider the story of Jesse Owens, who at the 1936 Berlin Olympics stood in defiance of tyranny. Under the gaze of a regime that sought to exalt one race above all others, Owens soared across the track, winning four gold medals. In that moment, he did more than run. He raised the flag of his country, but also of freedom and human dignity. His victories sent light into a dark time, proving that courage and talent cannot be silenced by falsehood. Just as Coventry’s victories carried honor for Zimbabwe, Owens’ triumphs carried honor for all who believed in justice and equality.

The lesson is this: every chance to uplift one’s people, one’s homeland, must be seized. We may not all swim in Olympic waters or run before kings, but each of us has opportunities—small or great—to raise our flag. To act with integrity in our work, to treat others with kindness, to speak truth, to create beauty—these are all ways of casting positive light upon the place and people we represent. When one person shines, they become a mirror in which their nation is reflected.

Practical wisdom flows from Coventry’s teaching. First, honor your roots, for they are the soil from which you spring. Second, let your achievements not be hoarded, but shared as gifts to those who believe in you. Third, remember that even in hardship, a single act of excellence can alter how the world sees your people. Carry your flag in whatever way you can—through service, through art, through knowledge, through perseverance.

Thus, the words of Kirsty Coventry endure like an anthem: every opportunity to raise the flag is sacred. Do not let such chances pass by, for they are moments when the self dissolves into the collective, and the individual becomes the vessel of a nation’s pride. To future generations, let this teaching be remembered: strive not only for your own light, but to kindle a light that shines upon your people, your homeland, and all who walk in your footsteps.