12/03/24
April 20, 2003
Schumachers to race despite tragic personal loss.: Michael and Ralf Schumacher's mother passed away last night. She was in a had been in a coma following an emergency operation. After securing the front row, the brothers rushed to be by her bedside. The brothers had flown to Cologne to visit their mother on Saturday after securing the two top spots on the grid for the San Marino race. Their mother was taken to hospital last week after collapsing, suffering from internal bleeding. Their performance under extreme pressure yesterday, and the fact that they will race today highlights just how dedicated both brothers are.
Back to normal for Ferrari and Michael it would seem. Or more than normal, since Michael would be just about the only athlete I can think of who could still perform at near-perfection after sometihng like that.
posted by Space Coyote at 09:48 AM on April 20, 2003
There is a good report on the race in the Guardian. I still don't know how he or Ralph were able to compete. Their mother was seriously ill for at least a week according to reports, and dying a lingering and unpleasant death. The emotional wringer they must have been through is unfathomable. I don't know if I am impressed or appalled.
posted by Fat Buddha at 07:19 AM on April 21, 2003
the fact that they will race today highlights just how dedicated both brothers are Or: the fact that they will race today highlights just how cold-hearted both brothers are Interpret at your leisure.
posted by werty at 01:50 PM on April 21, 2003
I wonder what kind of penalties (i.e. fines) they would have faced had they decided not to race. I don't know anything about racing, but I did notice the governing body over the event released them from formalities before and after the race, but that they didn't deign to offer them a pass on the race itself.
posted by jason streed at 01:54 PM on April 21, 2003
werty, Michael said his mother would've wanted them to race. While I personally would be in no condition to do it, but I do see why Ralf and Michael did it. When it's something your parents have spent their entire lives working on, the greatest tribute you could pay them on that day is to carry on with what they wanted you to do. Also for some people doing what they do best is a good form of expressing their pain. The first few laps of that grand prix had everyone impressed by how hard Ralf and Michael raced each other.
posted by riffola at 04:38 PM on April 21, 2003
Michael won the grand prix, and Ralf finished fourth.