Feel-good underdog stories are the backbone of the Olympic games.
You’ve likely already heard the popular ones.
A performance capped off by glasses-wearing, pommel horsing American hero Stephen Nedoroscik.
Those are just some of the feel-good stories the mainstream media will tell you about.
But you might not hear so much about are the heroics coming out of North Korea (i.e.
the bad Korea).
The Olympic Mixed Doubles Table Tennis competition features 16 teams from 16 different countries.
North Korea was one of those countries.
They were the 16th seed.
The last team expected to medal.
They cruised through the first two rounds, spanking both Japan and Sweden 4-1, respectively.
North Korea put them away 4-3.
The announcers referred to Sun Yingshaw as “Little Bear”.
I happened to catch a replay of the match last night.
Watched the whole thing from start to finish.
It was a respectable showing from the North Koreans.
They had the Chinese on skates at times.
But Wang and Little Bear’s prowess on the table proved too much in the end.
The scrappy underdog North Korean’s would have to settle for silver.
Nevertheless, it was an inspiring showing from the People’s Republic of North Korea’s people.
The last seeded team in any event taking home a medal of any sort is remarkable.
In all seriousness, I can’t help but cheer for the North Koreans.
As I understand it, life under Kim Jong-Un isn’t all he cracks it up to be.
I have my suspicions on whether or not hereallyinvented the hamburger.
And I’ve heard there’s some not-so-cool things that happen over there.
But it’s not these athlete’s faults they were born in the worst place in the world.
I’m willing to bet they aren’t among the Olympians complaining about the food.
However, the most remarkable thing about the entire Mixed Double’s Table Tennis competition happened after the match.
The bronze medal was won by the pairing from South Korea.
So on the podium, we had China, North Korea, and South Korea all standing together.
While on the podium, they posed for a selfie together.
Things between North and South Korea aren’t necessarily great at the moment.
The two countries are still technically at war.
They’ve hated each other forever.
North Korea is constantly firing off missiles in South Korea’s air space.
Apparently “People’s Republic” is strictly North Korean thing.
So the podium selfie was a nice, unexpected display of unity between the two countries.
Maybe you don’t want to get on that plane home.
Just to be safe.
They won silver in the Women’s Synchronized 10M Platform.
So best of luck to the North Koreans.
And maybe consider that “sneaking out of Paris in a suitcase” idea.
It might be your only chance.
