Sport is just amazing! We sometimes forget how it can unite people, communities, and even nations. Sport is able to heal deep, hurtful wounds. This was evident in Dunblane, Scotland where Andy Murray came home a hero. This small community scared by its own tragedy is slowly turning the page towards the positive and Andy Murray is at forefront.
In 1996, a madman walked into the gym of Dublane's primary school opening fire senselessly killing 16 children and a teacher. For ten straight days, Dublane was painted in black as people were in an out of the cemetery mourning and burring their own. This heinous act scarred the small town forever. One of its sons, is making that painful scar smaller and smaller by his triumphs on the tennis court.
A year with a gold medal, at no other than Wimbledon, and now the US Open has made this small community celebrate, share happiness, and come together, not in mourning, but in celebration. Children lined the streets without fear, but with admiration. They aspire to be like the Dublane boy who grew up to be US Open champion. Adults who lost their own children, now see Andy, who was one of the students at the primary school, as their own child standing on top of the world.
The proud Scot has made Scotland proud. He has brought some joy to a nation and healing to a community. Maybe this was all meant to be! Maybe the loss at Wimbledon for Andy was an encouraging sign for all Scots out there that there was hope. This, after all, was the year that Wimbledon hosted the Olympics and three weeks later he showed Scotland and the world that they were right taking the gold. A month after, he showed them more.
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