Tokyo Olympics
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chava
Well-known member
..'cause aesthetics. HGH jaw, association with needle abusers etc etc
IdleRich
IdleRich
Yes, I'm not making any kind of moral judgment here or saying that I would somehow rise above it. I was really just thinking out loud about how those long-after-the-event tests can potentially create a whole new kind of psychological horror.
Suppose that I was given this special new drug which allowed me to run the 100m in 8,7 seconds and thus guaranteed me the gold. Sure, eyebrows would be raised as a 43 year old man who had previously shown little in the way of interest in or aptitude for sprint racing took almost a second off the world record, but, as the drug was invented last week by my trainer and is completely undetetectable it's all cool.... except someone of my temperament (which is not a rare one in this respect I would have thought) would never really be able to truly celebrate the win; instantly reduced to a bag of nerves, waiting every day for the fall of the Sword of Damocles manifest as news that they can now detect this drug and that my "achievement" - the one that justifies my entire life - is about to be yanked away.
For a lot of people, the idea that every day that dawned might be the one in which I went from "miraculous sprinter who gave hope and encouragement to older competitors all round the world" to "evil drug cheat whose betrayal was the cruellest of all" would be something that can't just be shrugged off. My life would become that of the guy in The Telltale Heart except instead of instead of giving me away from under the floorboards it would be beating guiltily in my own chest! Each pulse a further turn of the screw taking me closer to insanity.
padraig (u.s.)
a monkey that will go ape
level playing field, in the sense of only what you're born with
which is sticky bc, as noted, genetic differences will always exist, tho sports are obviously more than just a best genes contest (albeit for almost anything at a high level one needs to clear an absurdly high floor of genetic talent to even seriously compete). and there's no single line where a particular supplement or whatever is going to be performance-enhancing in an "unfair" or "unnatural" way.
the "dangerous" argument is usually extended to kids (or minors, anyway) - if kids see role model adults do it they'll do it - because all things being equal, why shouldn't adults who are aware of the risks be able to take whatever substances they want? many sports are inherently dangerous, and so are plenty of activities and substances adults partake of legally.
personally I would never take anything stupid - just whey protein + creatine (incidentally, the only useful supplements - the (legal) supplement industy is a vast ocean of snake oil) because the risk or cost isn't remotely worth the reward, but if it was potentially the difference between a gold metal and 6th place, or landing/not landing millions in endorsements, or whatever, who knows? thankfully I don't have to make that kind of choice
padraig (u.s.)
a monkey that will go ape
I assume as a general rule that everyone in high-level sport is on whatever they can get away with (this is what comes of being a fan of both cycling + weightlifting), especially in anything strength or endurance-related
certainly people dope all the time in regular amateur (i.e. not the Olympics, just people not good enough to be pros) competition all the time, which is incredibly stupid and not worth it, so when there's actually enormous rewards on the line why would it be different
certainly people dope all the time in regular amateur (i.e. not the Olympics, just people not good enough to be pros) competition all the time, which is incredibly stupid and not worth it, so when there's actually enormous rewards on the line why would it be different
WashYourHands
Cat Malogen
South African greetings from Oz to Oz
"yes Bakkies, whatever you say Bakkies"
Justice as smash
Add the elevation, yetis
"yes Bakkies, whatever you say Bakkies"
Justice as smash
Add the elevation, yetis
chava
Well-known member
this is the problem. elite athletes shouldn't be role models
luka
Well-known member
they always will be because they have achievied excellence via the boring route of dedication and sacrifice
jenks
thread death
The British T&F team really not covering themselves in glory; stories of spikes setting v ridiculous records; distinct lack of personalities- all reasons I’ve been less invested. Plus other sports seem more exciting - the Italians beating nailed on favs Denmark in the 4 man pursuit; speed climbing; the kiwi rower and of course, the BMX.
mixed_biscuits
_________________________
Beat someone over whom one holds an unbridgeable preexisting advantage? #nothankyou
version
Well-known member
A 12 year old was the first person to land a 1080 on a skateboard and another 12 year old recently landed one in competition in front of Tony Hawk.
mixed_biscuits
_________________________
It's all going to end in tears, splinters and puberty-blockers.
