The Champagne Socialist

This morning I watched as Simon Whitfield, one of my athletic heroes, lost the chance to compete for gold again in the triathlon due to a set of circumstances outside his control involving a crash and his equipment. Yesterday we watched as the Women’s Soccer team fought so, so, so hard, and due in large part to circumstances outside their control, the officiating, they walked away with a result that did not represent their hard work on the pitch. 

I’m beginning to wonder if success in sport isn’t just as much about being the bes athlete as it being lucky on any given day. Simon and Christine Sinclair and the soccer ladies are clearly among the best at what they do, but they won’t receive the medals to recognize this. 

As someone who has struggled with injuries, many not from training but from silly, clutzy falls and other circumstances outside my control, I find it comforting to know that even the best in the world can suffer these kinds of setbacks. They’re awesome, we’re awesome, whether or not we have the medals to show for it.