Prior to the start of every major athletic competition, fans, players and coaches rise and listen to a familiar tune with hats removed and hands over hearts.
To most, hearing the national anthem before a sporting event is a natural event, an almost unconscious ritual. But to those who come from foreign nations to play on American teams, hearing the United States' national anthem before a game, match or meet is a new experience.
Athletes in the United States grow up listening to the national anthem at sporting events. Some high school and college teams develop unique routines to coincide with the anthem, such as standing with hands on each other's backs.
The playing of the anthem is a time for honoring America, quiet reflection and preparation for the upcoming contest. But for those who call another country home, the anthem holds a different meaning.
The Ohio women's swimming and diving team includes six international athletes. These women -from Brazil, Canada, Israel, Macedonia and South Africa -competed for years in their home countries, some with different pre-game procedures.
In Sigal Simsolo's native Israel, the Israeli anthem is played before athletic events, so she was used to the idea, but hearing the American anthem resonate from the Aquatic Center speakers at her first meet at Ohio was still a little peculiar.
I knew how it was going to be
(but) it was very strange Simsolo said. I usually think about our song when I hear yours.
South African Simone Swanepoel's reaction to hearing the anthem for the first time was similar but perhaps stronger, considering the South African anthem is not played before sporting events.
It shows that your country is very patriotic she said. It was weird in the beginning. South Africa is not as patriotic as America
so it's kind of funny.
As one of the U.S.'s closest neighbors, Canada parallels the U.S. in many aspects of athletics. One of these similarities is the playing of the national anthem.
Ohio hockey goalie Ryan Baksh spent his childhood years hearing the Canadian anthem played before his hockey games, but when he journeyed south to join the Bobcats, he had to adjust to hearing The Star Spangled Banner instead of O Canada.
It's the exact same setup (in Canada)
Baksh said. It was weird hearing the different national anthem
but now I'm totally used to it. It's like second nature now.
International athletes spend the time while the national anthem is playing in the same way that most American athletes do, despite not having the same attachment to the song and its meaning.
I usually take a break. It's very nice for me to hear this (the anthem)
Simsolo said.
Swanepoel said that she also uses the time to take a break from thinking about her events.
Baksh identified the anthem's place in hockey's pre-game festivities.
I usually listen to it
pay my respects to the U.S. and try to get myself ready to play
he said. It's that last break before getting down to playing hockey. It gets everyone into it right off the bat.
Though they come from all over the world with different customs, the international athletes who come to wear the green and white and compete for the Bobcats quickly acclimate themselves to the American practice of playing the national anthem before athletic competition.
The anthem provides a sort of calm before the storm during which time players can relax while focusing on the song and the approaching contest. Pausing to honor the U.S. is a gesture that all competitors can appreciate, no matter where they come from.
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