Jealousy, envy, green-eyed, you name it. There are many who detest the way Usain Bolt celebrated after his historical world record breaking feat in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m men's relay in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Jacques Rogge President of IOC, commented to the gesture of the Jamaican sprinter before he crossed the finish line during the 100m that he should show more respect to the other athletes. The nerve of this president. Does he know what it means to be in ecstasy, to be elated ,to be on top of the world when all your sweat and toil, hard work, pain, sacrifices and challenges have finally blossomed into a world record breaking feat?
Around the world, people have glorified what he achieved, yet some chose to accuse him instead of complimenting him. Read some of the comments from this blog 'Haters take aim at Usain'
I love Theodore Roosevelt. Just like Gandhi, he always has the right things to say. TR said, 'It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in worthy cause who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither VICTORY nor defeat.'
Usain Bolt worked hard for the promise that was given to him - 3 world records. How dare we deny him this exuberance in celebration and the feeling of sheer exhilaration of Victory.
1 comment:
Mr. Stand-up comedian,
This is normal in today's world, where the old heads try to absorb new ideas and become idiots in the process.
I don't think Bolt's gestures were meant to be disrespectful. But people forget the type of personalities required to be top sprinters. They're like heavyweight boxers.
Psychology is what half the battle is about. Sprinters aren't like distance runners or those competing in endurance based events. They need to have and hold big egos.
It isn't like Bolt went around mocking others or telling the other sprinters they're cheating themselves just by being there. He ran the races and won emphatically. Nobody can deny that fact.
Take away the eccentricity and his big ego, Bolt would be a Watson Nyambek for all we know.
These people are the types that never believe they can't and they work to ensure that they can beat everything that comes their way.
If some of us can't tolerate that, too bad...
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