As all the athletes are wrapping up their hard training and getting ready to compete in Beijing, I am reminded of the first time I ever traveled outside of Africa for an athletic event, in fact, it was the first time I had traveled so far on a plane.

An exciting moment for a young Gilbert in 1995.

It was 1995 and I was headed to the World University Games (Universiade) in Fukuoka, Japan. There were two of us selected as the first Burundians to attend the games, and both of us had the same first name. Gilbert Mvuyekure and Gilbert Tuhabonye, two high school athletes who were going to compete even though we weren’t in college. There had not been any college kids who qualified to run in the games. For us, it was a very last minute trip. I was really nervous as I knew it would be a lot of changing planes and a long time in the air.

As we were leaving the airport in Burundi, I ran into the most influential Burundian athlete of the time – Alois Nizigama. He was coming from the World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, where he had finished 5^th in the 10K. He knew I was headed to Japan and was really thrilled for me. Alois had come to see me in the hospital when I was recuperating from the burns and injuries I suffered from the attack on my school in 1993. He was very kind to me and gave me exercise clothes at the hospital when I had none. I found myself again the recipient of this man’s generosity.

Here I was traveling to Japan to compete in a prestigious international competition, but I did not have a uniform for the country of Burundi. Alois had such a great uniform, with a track suit, shorts, tights, gloves, a singlet and a red top – they were all very professional looking. They were the nicest running clothes I’d ever seen. I was really sad as I wanted to represent my country well, but they did not have a uniform for me.

Do you know that Alois handed me his gear? I couldn’t believe it! I was so thrilled and honored to wear the colors of my country and to receive such a generous gift from this man that I admired. Of course, I packed it in my bag and set off for Japan.

The Olympics are really about bringing people together from all over the world in the spirit of peace – to compete at the highest level and to find within ourselves, the power to push our bodies and our minds to the limit. It’s truly a shame that some world athletic events have been marred by scandal. But, for every scandal, there’s at least a positive, inspirational story about someone who gets to go to the Games and has the opportunity of a lifetime – the pinnacle sporting event for any athlete.

When I arrived in Japan in 1995, of course, I realized that my teammate Gilbert did not have a uniform either. So, at the opening ceremony, we shared the clothing from Alois Nizigama’s gym bag. I gave my fellow athlete the track suit and I wore the singlet and tights. People thought I was crazy for giving up any of that gear, but I knew that I was given a great gift and had to pass it along. More important than what I possessed was the opportunity for the two of us to demonstrate our pride to be there representing Burundi, in our country’s colors. What a great memory for me!

Best of luck to all the athletes headed to the Games. We will be watching and waiting to hear your stories.