Eddie the Eagle was on television tonight. The story is all about his exploits, leading up to his jump at the 1988 Olympics. Of course he came last, but it is a sugary story of somebody trying to excel against all odds.
Interestingly there was also another film based on a similar story at the same Olympics – Cool Runnings. A film sort of about the Jamaican bobsled team. Again a sugary story of people trying to excel against the odds.
It got me thinking about my trip to the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. I spent time chatting to some of the competitors. I met several including one of the Dutch volleyball team, and Josh Davis (USA swimmer) with his three gold medals that he let people try on. They were very down to earth. In act they seemed to be almost apologetic.
The one person I remember best was Olivier Sanou, the high jumper from Burkina Faso. I think the fact I spoke some French was one of the reasons he spent time hatting to me. I chatted to him over either a cool drink or a terrible coffee (can’t remember which – I think it was a coffee). He ended up level with another two jumpers in second last place. But he genuinely didn’t understand why people should think he had done well – we was just 35th in the world.
It really fascinated me that these top athletes never saw themselves as anything other than a normal person – and some of them felt close to failures. I found an interview with some of the Jamaican bobsled team. It gives an idea of the attitude of the people.
One of the things that stands out is the comment about the effect of the applause. And that suggests to me these are people that need reinforcement from others to feel they have any worth. Just because somebody looks like a star, a success, does not mean they are sure of themselves, even if they appear amazing to us.
Just because somebody is “up there” doesn’t mean knocking them is acceptable, wherever “up there” is.