Oh, ye of so little faith
Don't doubt it, don't doubt it
Victory is in your veins
You know it, you know it
And you will not negotiate
Just fight it, just fight it
And be transformed
-Katy Perry, Rise

The countdown to Rio is getting more and more intense. Everyone is getting more and more excited about the opening ceremony. People are concerned about security, a deadly virus, and a government that is currently experiencing a financial emergency. But I challenge you to remember what the Olympic Games are all about, as I have this week while practicing the sport I love.

I'm not an athlete. But I am a swimmer. Unfortunately, I've been out of the pool for various reasons during the past year. As all athletes know, leaving your sport for any amount of time can lead to withdrawal symptoms. But taking a break makes returning to your sport that much better.

This week, I've been swimming. And swimming. And swimming. That's because once I'm reminded of how great my sport is, I can't resist coming back again and again. In the pool, all my worries are washed away. And I love that feeling. Thoughts of the world are temporarily postponed and the water envelops me and accepts me as it's own. It's blissful even when the pain takes over. It's liberating even when the yardage keeps piling up.

Every sport has it's own version of this experience. The thrill of the goal, the success of the race, the challenge of the game. But it all comes down to the mental strength of the athletes and their love of the game and everything about the sport.

This is what swimming is about. The love of the water.

This is what all sports are about. The love of the game.

This is what the Olympics should be about. The love of the athletes and the love of the sports.

It's more than can be explained in words. Olympians win like champions and loose just as victoriously. There is something grand and majestic about competing with the best athletes from all over the world that makes us all want to rise up and accept new challenges. That's exactly what we all should do this Olympics. Rise to the challenge of appreciating more than the drama of Rio de Janeiro. Understand that Olympic athletes are more than just athletes. They're humans. They love their sports. We should all follow their example and love those sports and the people who play them.

As this year's Olympics begins, I challenge you to remember that it's not just about Rio. It's about the sports. It's about the athletes. It's about the love of the game. It's about coming together as one world.