Bob/PKB
McKayla Maroney just lost the gold medal (can't say she won the silver cuz she was the odds-on favorite) in the vault event. She didn't seem nervous to me...more arrogant and icy.
She may be the "best" in the world (except today), but one thing she ISN'T is a gracious loser. I'm embarrassed she represents the USA.
Any thoughts on "how to lose" (it happens to almost everyone once in a while)
Now, here comes Pistorius in the 400m. (Came in last with 46.54; any one of us think (s)he can beat that?) Gotta wonder who is more "handicapped".
8 Answers
Tommyh
Ann
digger
I'm ok with it. These guys train for years for this moment and are extremely competitive. It's all about personal expectations. Whenever you see a Bronze medal winner jump for joy, it's because they knew going into the event that they had no chance of finishing first. They know the pecking order better than we do. In time, she'll accept it and get over it but the mountain of sponsorship money that awaits the gold winner is no longer there.
| 12 years ago. Rating: 13 | |
Ducky
Shootah
The face some people present to the world during stressfull times, isn't always representative of the underlying emotions within. People process what they are experiencing differently, perhaps more in line with their personality type. I don't think that it's not that they don't feel the disappointment of immediate failure, but how they cope with it, manifests itself differently in physically observable ways to another person observing it.
| 12 years ago. Rating: 10 | |
Flip
Unless I missed something other than her unsmiling attitude (I turned the tv off and went to sleep), I thought it was more of disgust with her own performance than arrogance toward others. As Ann said, she and most everyone else expected her to win. Sure, she could have been more gracious, but..... Nothing to be embarrassed about.
| 12 years ago. Rating: 10 | |
I'm fine to agree to disagree on this one, so let it go. I'm pretty sure no one here is going to change my mind on this. I coached a lot of teams and compete many times each month; acknowledging another's accomplishment is mandatory, not an option.
Perhaps her coaches should have gently reminded her to congratulate the winner.
Lastly, she's not "just a kid". Is someone treating her like one or just allowing her to act like one?
ed shank
Losing is indeed a humbling experience. Although I've managed to clutter my home with a few trophies the past thirty five years, I lose more times than win. It's a labor of love. It's fun and the rush is habit forming. I'm glad the US is top dog in the Olympics. I, however find the games uninteresting and haven't watched any of them.
| 12 years ago. Rating: 8 | |
gymnast
