The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris have just concluded, leaving us with stories of triumph, heartbreak, and incredible feats of human athleticism. Among these stories, one particularly stands out: the tale of an Indian athlete, Vinesh Phogat, who missed an Olympic medal by a mere 100 grams. It generated a major uproar in our society. Most of our reactions were of shock and utter disbelief.

Let’s step back and look at it again. What does 100 grams signify in the context of the world’s most elite sporting event?

Let’s go back to the 1984 Olympics when P.T. Usha, one of India’s greatest athletes, missed an Olympic medal in the 400-meter hurdles by 1/100th of a second. That minuscule margin was the difference between glory and a near miss.

Fast forward to the present, and the story of Vinesh Phogat reminds us of how narrow the margins are in elite sports. In this year’s Olympics, the 100-meter race between Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson and the USA’s Noah Laley was decided by just 1/1000th of a second. Both recorded 9.79 seconds and to decide the winner, one thousandth of a second played the decider. Imagine that—a blink of an eye, a heartbeat, a breath—and a gold medal was won or lost. In these moments, every second, every fraction of a second, every millimeter, and every gram matters.

Progress in Athletics: A Century of Innovation

Let’s go back by 100 years, the 1924 Olympics, the gold medal in the men’s 100 meters was won by Harold Abrahams of Great Britain with a time of 10.6 seconds. And, 100 years later, the Olympic gold went for 9.79 seconds. In these 100 years, we’ve seen incredible advancements in athletics: synthetic tracks, breakthroughs in shoe technology with spikes, the introduction of starting blocks, and significant progress in sports science, nutrition, and exercise physiology. Despite all these innovations, humanity has managed to shave just one second off the time it takes to run 100 meters at the Olympic level.

This minuscule improvement, achieved over a century, underscores just how difficult it is to push the boundaries of human performance. The difference between winning and losing, between a world record and second place, can be as small as a single second or a few grams of body weight.

The Lesson for Society: Every Second, Every Gram Matters

Vinesh Phogat is an incredible athlete, and her story is one of perseverance, dedication, and remarkable determination. But her story is not just about personal achievement or disappointment—it carries a broader lesson for all of us.

As a society, we often overlook the importance of the small details. We forget that excellence is often achieved by paying attention to the minute details. One second, one gram—these are not just trivial measurements; they are the difference between good and great, between making history and being forgotten.

The Pursuit of Excellence: A Call to Action

The story of missing an Olympic medal by 100 grams should serve as a wake-up call. It’s a reminder that in the pursuit of excellence, every detail counts. Whether in sports, academics, business, or any other field, we must strive to push the envelope, to focus on precision, and to value the pursuit of perfection.

As we move forward, let’s not dwell on what was lost but instead learn from it. Let’s recognize that there is a premium on excellence, and that to achieve it, we must pay attention to every second, every gram, and every tiny detail that can make a difference. By doing so, we can build a society that values and achieves greatness, one small step at a time.

In the end, Vinesh Phogat’s story is not just about missing a medal—it’s about the relentless pursuit of excellence, the importance of precision, and the belief that even the smallest details can lead to extraordinary outcomes.