An Olympic Rant
Before I embark on my dissertation work for the day, I have something to say about the Olympics and the medal attitude.
So this morning I was watching the Olympics - specifically the Women's Coxless Four. We came second. So why the fuck was everyone acting like it was the end of the fucking world?
Second is good! You won a silver medal! Don't you understand? In one of the fiercest competitions in the world where all the best athletes are at, you came in second! Out of the WORLD! I get that you're disappointed that you didn't get gold, but don't let that ruin the achievement you have achieved! Especially when you get to the podium, don't be visibly upset, try and use that moment to be proud that you're there. If you look like you're pissed off, it doesn't look like you appreciate the prize. (Especially the woman who won three in a row. That's bloody brilliant!)
The Olympics is NOT about winning gold medals. It never has been. There are countries who will go home with just one bronze and they will be delighted with that and treat their athletes like heroes because goddammit, they went out and they tried. The whole point of sport is the trying to do your best. That's why people like Eddie the Eagle and Eric the Eel are remembered so much - because regardless of what the odds were, regardless of the fact that they didn't win, they went out and had a go anyway. The whole Olympic spirit is about doing your best and if you win, bonus. The Chinese rowers absolutely deserved that Gold because they rowed better than us. Simple as.
It annoys me that the media go around saying 'Oh, we're practically guaranteed this medal' because then if we don't get it, the disappointment is greater for everyone and the pressure this puts on the athletes is enormous. It's stupid. As I've watched these games, I've seen the athletes saying things like 'It all depends on the day'. Sport is half luck depending on how the other competitors are performing. Sometimes they will just be better. You can't have it both ways, saying a Gold medal is a guarantee and then say it's down to the day as well. The media should just shut up about 'guarantees' and make more of a big deal when one of our competitors gets any medal. Period. Because it's a bloody huge achievement and we should support our athletes wherever they come and be proud that at least we went out and tried.
Edit: I'm not saying we shouldn't strive for gold, that's not my point. My point is that Gold isn't the be-all and end-all. There are three positions of medals and each one is bloody good. Sometimes you try your hardest and the other team is just better.
So this morning I was watching the Olympics - specifically the Women's Coxless Four. We came second. So why the fuck was everyone acting like it was the end of the fucking world?
Second is good! You won a silver medal! Don't you understand? In one of the fiercest competitions in the world where all the best athletes are at, you came in second! Out of the WORLD! I get that you're disappointed that you didn't get gold, but don't let that ruin the achievement you have achieved! Especially when you get to the podium, don't be visibly upset, try and use that moment to be proud that you're there. If you look like you're pissed off, it doesn't look like you appreciate the prize. (Especially the woman who won three in a row. That's bloody brilliant!)
The Olympics is NOT about winning gold medals. It never has been. There are countries who will go home with just one bronze and they will be delighted with that and treat their athletes like heroes because goddammit, they went out and they tried. The whole point of sport is the trying to do your best. That's why people like Eddie the Eagle and Eric the Eel are remembered so much - because regardless of what the odds were, regardless of the fact that they didn't win, they went out and had a go anyway. The whole Olympic spirit is about doing your best and if you win, bonus. The Chinese rowers absolutely deserved that Gold because they rowed better than us. Simple as.
It annoys me that the media go around saying 'Oh, we're practically guaranteed this medal' because then if we don't get it, the disappointment is greater for everyone and the pressure this puts on the athletes is enormous. It's stupid. As I've watched these games, I've seen the athletes saying things like 'It all depends on the day'. Sport is half luck depending on how the other competitors are performing. Sometimes they will just be better. You can't have it both ways, saying a Gold medal is a guarantee and then say it's down to the day as well. The media should just shut up about 'guarantees' and make more of a big deal when one of our competitors gets any medal. Period. Because it's a bloody huge achievement and we should support our athletes wherever they come and be proud that at least we went out and tried.
Edit: I'm not saying we shouldn't strive for gold, that's not my point. My point is that Gold isn't the be-all and end-all. There are three positions of medals and each one is bloody good. Sometimes you try your hardest and the other team is just better.