If you’ve ever thought about pursuing a lifelong dream, but haven’t tried because you told yourself you’re too old, here’s a story that’ll kill that excuse in an instant. On August 7th, 41-year-old Uzbek Olympic gymnast Oksana Chusovitina earned a score of 14.999 on the vault, successfully qualifying for the finals at the 2016 Olympic Summer Games in Rio. This is an amazing accomplishment in a sport where most of her competition is half her age.
Although the gymnastics world can’t wait to watch her perform in the finals, Chusovitina, who’s known as “Chuso” by her fellow gymnasts, made history before she even sprung off the vault. By simply participating in the 2016 games she became the oldest women to ever have done so. The Rio games are her seventh after her debut in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona where she competed for the Soviet Union. After the fall of the Soviet Union, she began representing the republic in which she was born, Uzbekistan. Chusovitina would compete for Germany at the ‘08 and ‘12 games after moving there while her son, Alisher, underwent treatment for acute lymphocytic leukemia. His cancer would ultimately go into remission after six years of treatment.
After the London Olympics in 2012, Chusovitina announced her retirement, but it didn’t last long. “The next day I woke up, and I was lying down in my bed and thinking, ‘I didn’t accomplish everything I wanted to accomplish and I still feel I can do a little bit more.’ And that’s why I started training for my next Olympics. Because I still feel I can do more.” And given the fact that she’s moved on to the vault finals, she clearly did have more to prove.
Chusovitina will compete in the vault finals on Sunday, August 14th. Here is her successful performance from August 7th that vaulted her into the finals.
Correction: This post previously identified Chusovitina as the oldest Olympian to ever compete. She is in fact the oldest female gymnast to ever compete.
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This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.