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Olympic Retrospect

Although the Americans are second in the medal standings with 22 medals (two behind Germany), there seems to be a general disappointment for the American team going into the final weekend of competition.

Both Ice Hockey Gold Medal games will be without American teams and the SI cover jinx continued with authority as the American Ski team pulled up really lame. Chad Hedrick will be leaving with each colored medal after expecting five gold medals and Michelle Kwan did not even have a chance to compete for her elusive gold medal.

Maybe some athletes have not performed to their potential, but maybe there has been an extreme influx of hyping athletes.

For the most part, Italians (and a majority of the world) feel that Americans always think they are the best. This is true. No matter the event, many Americans feel victory is the only way to measure fame and character. A competitive driving force is instilled into our minds, dispersing into all aspects of our lives.

But increasing expectations are changing the face of sport.

Ask the Canadian hockey team (or the Canadian Broadcast Channel) how expectations are changing their businesses.

In a betting mans world, there will always be a favorite and there will most certainly be an underdog. There will always be the underlying stories but there will also be the stories that are blown out of proportion to draw attention and ratings.

Sporting Networks, especially ESPN, have changed the face of modern sports, allowing for premium exposure and the quest for the highlight reel. I enjoy getting my sports news as quickly as possible (by the way, does anyone have the Mobile ESPN?) but I want the facts.

Hogging the spotlight has hurt many athletes, whether in their athletic careers or everyday lives. Lindsey Jacobellis should regret when she grabbed her snowboard in the final of the Women’s Snowboard Cross, but she will still get money from sponsors. She will learn from her mistake, but how often do we as a sports audience think about how we are receiving our sports news and why we are seeing certain athletes covered on a regular basis?

Statistics cannot lie. Greatness can be seen everywhere, but we have to reconsider what we appreciate. Winning a gold medal isn’t the only way an athlete can be successful in his/her sport.

Through these Olympics, I am beginning to appreciate sports more so for great competition than for memorable and sometimes life-shattering moments. Although many of these sports continue year-round, the most important event occurs once every four years. Your talent also get measured in four-year periods, trying to live the perfect moment at the perfect time on the perfect day.

Gearing one’s life toward a certain goal can be very frustrating. Many athletes sacrifice their social lives and daily desires for a specific means. Few attain these dreams. There is nothing wrong striving for the best, but it should always be with proper intent.

Although Michelle Kwan fell short of Americas dream for her to win the gold medal in Torino, she was very gracious about withdrawing. She was classy. Although it may sting in the morning when she wakes up without a gold medal in her trophy collection, she talked about the journey that sports led her through and how they shaped her life. She did not focus on the gaping hole in her heart that the media continues to rip open whenever her name is mentioned.

It is difficult to look at such events and be grateful for all the athletes that compete, but as long as we measure athletes by the rings on their fingers and medals on their necks, our views will continue to be clouded by the true lessons learned from sport.

Accepting defeat is one of them.

Posted by Marco Santini  at 3:02 PM | Permalink

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Posted by: Tony Burke at February 25, 2006 11:21 AM

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