When a Win is a Loss
Like many people I have been watching the 2008 Olympic Games and I marvel everyday at the beautiful pageantry and the physically skillful accomplishments of the athletes.
These are truly gifted individuals and amazing human endeavor.
However, I awoke yesterday to see the headlines on one news channel:
“Heartbreaking loss for U.S. women gymnasts“
I was so disappointed to see this as our response to a silver medal winning performance by some extremely talented and determined young women athletes.
It seems almost normal now that when things don’t go the way people expect they start pointing fingers and finding fault. A pattern polished to a fine gloss everyday by children all around the world.
Even if the other competitors MAY be underage they are still there and accepted by the Olympic Committee as qualified to compete. Even if the scoring MIGHT seem biased or slow in coming it still met the standards of Olympic competition.
Each of the competitors from every nation badly wanted a medal around their neck. Some even held high expectations of gold because of their past performances, but nothing is guaranteed in sports competition.
Expectations are just that, expectations and hopes.
To characterize the accomplishments of the US Women’s Gymnastics team as a loss is to turn your back on all of the hard work these young ladies have endured and the achievements of their efforts.
What message are we sending to these athletes and our future children who become athletes? That only a gold medal performance is considered a win?
Every athlete in the Olympics is a winner just for being good enough to get there.
So, I celebrate the WIN of a silver medal performance and continue to wonder what in the world has happened to others that would make them so jaded, suspicious and demanding that they would think otherwise.
This with the SOCIAL BOOKMARKING CONSOLE