The Optimists

For the past 40 years, Goro, now 98 years old, has been training weekly with other elderly women in the Norwegian volleyball team The Optimists. Amazingly, every morning, she puts on her socks while balancing on one leg - not an easy task at her age. With purple Converse shoes and a dark blue track suit, she runs around trying to hit balls, making up for the past when “it was only boys that did this and I wasn’t allowed to join” (Goro). Since the 1980s, the team has not played a real match against other teams. Now it’s time for them to face a worthy opponent. After intense research, they find a team of Swedish gentlemen who seem to be ready to accept the challenge. The Optimists print professional team T-shirts and look for sponsors to support their trip to Sweden. Cheerful Mariachi music accompanies the everyday preparations of these women, and counteracts their loneliness and lack of excitement. At last, Goro joins the match during the last set and plays against the dreaded opposing team. This refreshing comedy is a welcome distraction from the fear of ageing.

Manuela Ruggeri