Reflection: Billy Mills

                Billy Mills expresses his internal journey by narrating his thoughts as he writes to his sister in the movie. After arriving at the University and beginning his professional career as a runner, he stays in constant contact with his sister by writing letters to the Indian Reservation where he grew up in. Because he is half Indian, Billy faces discrimination on a daily basis throughout his time at the university. His letters to his sister become an outlet for all his built-up frustration and serve as an internal journey that ends up helping him both emotionally and physically.

                The external journey of Mills (the athlete) is experienced through his travels. Apart from leaving the Reserve to go to university, Mills also joins the military as a Marine. This decision allowed him to gather his thoughts after the loss of his friend, and helped him focus in order to eventually accomplish his dream of winning the 10,000 meter dash at the Olympics in Japan. His determination as a runner the experience from his travels turned him into an icon and allowed him to achieve what others told him was impossible.

                When judged by racists throughout the movie, Mills defends his heritage as an Indian. After leaving the reservation, He mentions that running was his way of dealing with these types of hardships. It was only after his emotional pain started affecting his ability to win races that he actually decided to return to his homeland, leaving his wife behind in Kansas. Once home, his sister and friends helped him regain his love for running and were the main reason he decided to chase after his dreams. Without his sister there to comfort him after his best friend’s suicide, Mills would not have continued his (external) journey to Japan to run in the Olympics.

                Although his coach was part of the group of people that criticized him at first for his appearance, Mills thanks him at the end of the movie. He does this because the coach was the one person who pushed him the most to strive for his dreams. Even if they did not see eye to eye at some point, the coach saw greatness in Billy and took a chance on him. This decision allowed Billy to show how great a runner he really was and led to the reconciliation of these two men at the end of the Olympic race.