It’s pouring rain outside, really terrible weather. I did go out, I needed a walk just to clear my mind. In my head I could see a replay of Ayrton Senna’s famous lap in Donington Park in 1993. It’s been 20 years since he passed away.
All over the media there are many tributes. People share their stories, they remember what they were doing when Ayrton had the tragic accident. I don’t have any stories to tell, there aren’t any memories either. I am 20 years old. However, Ayrton is my hero. I only got to know him through books, pictures and some documentaries and races I could get my hands on. I wish I had the chance to see him.
Earlier today, I was wondering why I have such strong feelings about him. What is it that made people so attached to him? The answer is really simple – he was a genuine man with kind heart. There are so many athletes, many influential people in the world, yet I feel like Ayrton was different. There isn’t anyone who would remind me of him.
The reason why Ayrton was so unique, perhaps untouchable, is because he was a true icon in professional life but also a great example off the circuit. Through Ayrton’s life we can see that when you truly believe in something, you have a passion and you dedicate your life to your dream, you can succeed. It takes a lot of time, a lot of courage but you can make all your dreams come true. It doesn’t matter where you come from, what kind of background you have or how old you are. When you have a dream, you can make it happen, just never give up on it. Sure, you might miss out on some opportunity here and there, but there is nothing that can stop you from fulfilling your dreams.
As for Ayrton off the track, I only wish there were more people like him. I recently saw a statistic which said that the Ayrton Senna Institute helped over 2 million kids and young adults in Brazil since 1994. What a remarkable number. It is obvious that Ayrton cared about people. He loved Brazil and he would do his best to help in any way he could. I have to say, this is the true reason why I love Ayrton so much. He was a great athlete but for me, the most important thing is that he was a good guy. He helped because he knew that’s the right thing to do, not because he wanted more attention to himself. For that, I wish there were more people like him in this world.
Ayrton is an inspiration to me. I wish I could thank him for being a great example for me and for millions of people all around the world. 20 years later, the world still remembers. I will be lighting a candle for him today and even though I never got the chance to meet him, I feel like I’m missing an old friend.
