Some atheletes need to learn to graciously

[Uhu]

Did anybody else watch the heptathalon and marathon? I was dipping in and out to watch the progress of each. Denise Lewis dropped out when she realised that she was no longer a medal contender and Paula Radcliffe dropped out "due to heat exhaustion" when she only had 3 miles left to run. Why? In the marathon,if the "lesser" runners could continue and finish, why couldn't she? After all, PR is a champion and would have trained very hard for this. Everybody knew that Athens was hot and for commentators to imply that the heat was too much for her was in my mind, making excuses. PR is a phenomenal athelete and I think she has let herself down by dropping out of the race when she only had 3 miles to go. DL is also a great champion and initially I thought she had a injury but it turns out that she lost all hope in winning.

I have never been a champion of anything so I cannot appreciate the mental anguish that these people endure when they know they are going to lose but they should take note of a true champion like the Ethiopian, Haile Gebrselassie. He was 2 times Olympic champion of the 10,000 race. He was aiming for a 3rd gold medal but in the end he came 5th, still a good position. He did not drop out when the going got tough. Champions win races but they also accept defeat graciously.

My final comment. Haile Gebrselassie strived to win his 3rd gold medal in the 10,000m and came 5th. He could have dropped out but didn't. A true champion in both winning and losing.

I find it extraordinary that people feel they have the right to demand an athlete keep going when that athlete felt it was right for her to stop. So what if other athletes could do it? She couldn't. None of us knows how she felt just at that moment. I wouldn't go and do a marathon in the cold, let alone the heat - and I wouldn't insist somebody else does either, just to "send out a message". Why is the message that keeping going and possibly dropping dead is better than know your limits and don't damage your health for pride?

I assume he wasn't on the verge of collapse through exhaustion and excessive heat or injured and therefore had no need to pull out though.

I wonder what temperatures he's used to running in...

Gebreselassie is another athelete I admire. He is at the end of his career and he was running 10,000m ffs. Not 26.whatever miles!

Paula is a fantastic athelete and I can't begin to imagination what it would have taken for her to stop. Give her a break

He is used to the heat he comes from Ethiopia FFS - and he has cheated before having his country men box in the Kenyans so he could win - Paula comes from the north of England and suffers from Asthma - she is a true sportswomen and a great example to our youngsters.

I would rather hold her up as a shining example of what professional sport is about than Beckham and Rooney who can;t keep their peckers in their pants and HGS who wins under circumstances brought about by his fellow countrymen!!

I am sooo angry!!

Go Paula Go XXX

peckers in pants lol
I thoiught hte plaster on her nose wasa bad fashion sattment

Nooooo she needs it to maximise her airways as she is running an incredible distance when she has asthma - ooohhhh are you trying to wind me up on purpose codster????

I think far more shocking than Paula Radcliffe being overwhelmed by the heat was he way the media dealt with it last night.
Who cringed when they saw Sue Barker tell the other two GB ladies Paula Radcliffe couldn't complete the race and it had all ended in tears? Shocking! Blinking Sue Barker told them almost gleefully looking for reaction. How bloody tactless.
I think Paula Radcliffe gave it EVERYTHING she had, to the point where she really had nothing else to give. This was not only a physical but also a mental challenge and to see her anguish laid bare for everyone to pick at and anaylse was awful!

I do think that, unless you are an athelete yourself, were there and know the conditions and know the condition the athelete in question was in at the time then you really have no idea and can't make sweeping judgements. What's that statemtnt abot walking a mile in someone elses shoes? How about running 36km in them instead... PR didn't just pull up and saunter off when she was out of medal contention, she collapsed on the side of the road in floods of tears and ended up on a drip didn't she? I only saw a short bit of the heptahalon but DL was clearly not in peak form and was carrying an injury.

At least neither of them have cheated, taken drugs and disgraced their country.

Well said Soupdragon!

I think it looked a bit rubbish that she stopped as soon as she realised she wasnt going to win a medal...maybe that wasn't the real reason but that is certainly what it looked like. I think thats why people feel a bit cross about it. And I do see that she's got asthma etc etc but quite honestly I don't see why that should come into it - you are either a competitor or you aren't.

and soupdragon, sorry but I have to disagree. We are perfectly entitled to make judgements about those who compete 'in our name' - and lets face it, none of us really know much about marathon running. I know nothing about floor gymnastics either but I am perfectly entitled to judge the performances I see on tv - its part of the fun!

BTW, my period is due tomorrow - why isn't there an icon for that?

Are you for real enid? Come on,I think someone is trying to wind us up!

I agree with enid, but I do lurve soupy

Blimey Enid.

I didn't think it was that controversial!

I wouldn't have thought so. I am just surprised at your reaction really because I felt soo soo sorry for her.
I really don't think she had anything left in her to be gracious. I doubt she would have wanted to make such a spectacle on television.

No posting on Mumsnet has ever wound me up more. Its best I dont comment further - it would get nasty....

If my post has just wound you up Jaxmum, then you have obviously misunderstood my point.

I can sort of see where Uhu is coming from, because we are all taught from an early age that it's competing well is more important than winning. But I don't think it's really true at Olympic level, after all competing is the athletes business, and their bodies are the only resources their business has. If Denise Lewis knew there was no chance of a medal she probably reasoned that there was no point in risking further injury by continuing. After all if you owned a company that competing for a contract and half-way through you were told that you definitely wouldn't get the contract, you wouldn't continue to waste man-hours and resources on it and risk missing other contracts because of doing that, would you?

As for the Paula's crying thing, she was very disppointed and I expect she would have cried in private if she could have, it's not really her fault that the cameras were determined to get in her face and broadcast it to the world.

It DID look as though she dropped out when she was overtaken. She was overtaken, then dropped out a couple of minutes later. I'm not going to be the only person who thought that didn't look very impressive.

Very surprised that I have caused such a massive uproar! Paula will probably be on in a minute threatening to denounce me on live telly!

ooops no no no, sorry, the original one