Over the last couple of weeks the Olympic podium has been
the scene for many a good cry. And
rightly so. There is no place so high as an Olympic podium, the absolute peak
of sporting achievement and once up there you have earned the right to shed a
tear or two of joy. Many, many did. And while it was delightful to see the faces
of 15 year old Lithuanians, or swimmers from Hong Kong winning their only
medal, no tears signified so much than
those of Becky Addlington, bronze in the
800m Freestyle. Hers were not tears of
joy, but of disappointment. Let's be clear, there is absolutely no shame in
winning a Bronze instead of a Gold, no one is let down, but the vision of her
on the podium, sobbing in disappointment, spoke volumes of how far British
sport has traveled in coming home.
For many years we
were happy to settle of coming second or third, plucky losers enjoying taking part while USA and Australia gloried
in winning and gloried in rubbing our noses in it. Undeterred, we held non competitive
sports days in schools, ensured every knew they were good at something and
resisted encouraging individual brilliance.
How that has now changed.
Resources, money and top class coaching have targeted the outstanding
athletes in many sports, they they have returned in investment in Spades and my,
how we enjoy winning now!
Ten years ago Becky Addlington would have been delighted
with Bronze, now she thinks it's just not good enough. That attitude and determination is a sea
change in British sport, a complete about turn.
It has spread beyond Olympic sports and can be seen in road cycling with
team Sky the resurgent Welsh and newly
reformed English rugby teams. A quiet determination
to win and not settle for second best and willingness to do all the work necessary to
ensure they achieve that. To take losing with dignity and let it make them
stronger. Let's hope it is here to stay
and there are more fantastic sporting moments which can lift the nation in the
way we have been lifted these last few, brief days. It's just a shame that that the same
qualities cannot be given to our overpaid , petulant and complacent
footballers. Now that really would be a turn around
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