British attitude to losing

[princerupe74]

I'm putting this in News because the Olympics is the biggest news right now. Most of the British competitors who've thus far failed to medal (this is an accepted verb now, it seems) have said things like "I'm still pleased with my performance" and "I was just pleased to be in the final." Do you think "Good on you, that's the correct and sporting attitude" or do you think "that's the problem with British sporting competitors - they're happy to accept second best and don't have the required winning mentality"?

[kinell]

baz is of course spot on....

one medal for the winner is all that is required,

silver medal, runner-up......call it what you like.......

it still means 'first loser'.


and who wants a memento of that?

[jackthehat]

There is no shame in being beaten by a better competitor and the silver and bronze medals are a reflection of that.

It would have been rather tedious watching Ed Moses running all by himself around the 400m hurdles tracks for 10 years..........

[Frank97]

I would be very proud of getting a silver medal, came second in a dog show once, there was only two entrants in the class, yet I was still proud to take home the cup!

[Hopkirk]

There have got to to be many many more losers than winners - and it's not just the British.

[bednobs]

i don't really know what else they can say "my (run/swim/shoot) was rubbish and i'm really pissed off i didn't get the gold"

[youngmafbog]

Depends also at what stage in your 'career' you are at. 1st Olympics and 14 yrs old, just getting there is a massive achievment. 35+ and still a competitor, same thing. If your at your peak though different story, but evrey competition has to have loosers. Silve and Bronze still show you got throught the heats and beat loads to get there.

[Mick-Talbot]

or do you think "that's the problem with British sporting competitors - they're happy to accept second best and don't have the required winning mentality"?



How do you explain the 19 gold medals in 2008 ?

[Ellipsis]

Anybody who gets to an Olympic final has to have a winning attitude just to get there. They're probably the best in their country, after all, and to reach that position they've had to work really hard and/or (probably "and") be blessed with a huge amount of natural ability.

If one of my kids got to an Olympic final and came 7th, I don't think I'd be calling them "losers". I'd be really proud of them. The same principles apply to any athlete and to most professions. The seventh best teacher in the world, the seventh best soldier, the seventh best financier, etc. - these would all be highly prized.

Winning only means anything if there was somebody there worth beating. There are no losers in an Olympic final. Losers are the ones with an attitude that someone who comes 7th in the world is a loser.

[bazwillrun]

" I don't think I'd be calling them "losers"

doesnt matter how well you think somebody has done, if they dont come first they havent won, so they arent winners thats for sure !

[vulcan]

Surely without people coming 2nd, 3rd etc there cannot be a winner?

[sandyRoe]

The competitors in the Olympics have put in years of training, sacrifice, and dedication to get there. Medal, or no medal, they're all winners.

[naomi24]

Isn't that what used to be known as 'good sportsmanship'? Nothing wrong with that.

[weecalf]

anyway swearing is not allowed on the beeb beore 9