Olympic 'heroes'? I don't think so.

[singlecoil]

Yes, there were some very goood athletes, who trained very hard and tried very hard, but just because, on the day, they were lucky enough that nobody turned up who was better than them, that doesn't make them 'heroes'.

Since when has being a bit quicker at doing something than anybody else made a person a hero? Jumping into a freezing river to save somebody from drowning, now that's what makes somebody a hero. Or saving the rest of the platoon from a hand grenade.

[cardigankid]

I don't want to denigrate the achievements of individual athletes, but sadly you are right. They are trained like hot house plants as an excuse for the failure to do anything for the rest of the population, and so we can feel good about ourselves, like the East Germans used to, living in their giant prison camp. The hope is that we won't realise what is going on and lynch the mob of tossers at Westminster who are 'running' the country.

[BMWBen]

I think that what you're missing is just how good they are at the sports that they partake in. It never ceases to amaze me just how good someone can become at a particular task. And until you are up against one of these athletes face to face, you'll never know.
It's a spotlight on the human species, and part of why we don't scab around eating things off trees any more.

Heros? Maybe not, but definitely impressive.

[Kinky]

I think they are heroes in comparison to the footballers of today.

Footballers arrogance is just astounding - demanding £100k+ a WEEK to play - and not playing because they're not 'mentally prepared'

[Hollywood Wheels]

Olympic athletes are, by the very nature of what they do, self-obsessed people. I personally think they have a mild form of mental illness, but that's just my opinion. I've never been a competitive person, I concentarte on just being happy in life and couldn't give a toss if I'm 'best' at anything. Heroes? Absolutely not. I don't get the entire national pride thing either. So, someone who I've never known, who lives hundreds of miles away from me, has won something? Why should that make me feel proud exactly????

[singlecoil]

BMWBen said:

I think that what you're missing is just how good they are at the sports that they partake in.

Perhaps what you are missing is that although they are very good, very good indeed, they only win if somebody even better doesn't turn up on the day. In other words, they need to be lucky as well as good.

And being a) good, and b) lucky is not heroic. Just good and lucky

[spaximus]

Yes the atheletes did well, but then they should after all the cash that has been thrown at them. Heros they most certainly are not. In the last two olympics we have seen Paula Radcliffe fail, and yet be seen as a heroine.
Heros are ordinary people doing extaordinary acts of bravery to benefit others, these all benefit themselves first and foremost.

[MrTom]

I thought it was strange no one had brought this up until now. It really annoyed me, every other sentence was our heroes this and that.

[Kinky]

MrTom said:

I thought it was strange no one had brought this up until now. It really annoyed me, every other sentence was our heroes this and that.

They did - it came up last weekend.

[BMWBen]

singlecoil said:

BMWBen said:

I think that what you're missing is just how good they are at the sports that they partake in.

Perhaps what you are missing is that although they are very good, very good indeed, they only win if somebody even better doesn't turn up on the day. In other words, they need to be lucky as well as good.

And being a) good, and b) lucky is not heroic. Just good and lucky

The whole point of the olympics is that everyone who thinks they might be better DOES show up

[anonymous-user]

Everyone who does something well is a Hero these days.

I think most people, apart from the media, agree that to be Heroic some sort of brave selflessness is required. Putting yourself in a position of danger or adversity for the benefit of others is Heroic.

I can't really see how doing well at sport is heroic but isn't it better to see people being over praised and their achievements being lauded than just hearing about grim economic downturn in the news. Sure it's a bit over the top but I think in Britain we don't celebrate this kind of greatness enough.

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 30th August 09:52

[singlecoil]

BMWBen said:

singlecoil said:

BMWBen said:

I think that what you're missing is just how good they are at the sports that they partake in.

Perhaps what you are missing is that although they are very good, very good indeed, they only win if somebody even better doesn't turn up on the day. In other words, they need to be lucky as well as good.

And being a) good, and b) lucky is not heroic. Just good and lucky

The whole point of the olympics is that everyone who thinks they might be better DOES show up

Well, whether they show up or not doesn't change the fact that the actual winner needs to be lucky in order to win.

[jmorgan]

Hands up who sat on their arses and hands up who went to the Olympics to compete.....

[EK993]

Why not call them heroes? They dedicate their whole lives to becoming an elite athelete.

Isn't it nice to read about something good in the papers, people who have worked hard and achieved? Rather than another teenage knife crime / senseless criminal act. Maybe some of the kids who would otherwise go on to underachieve in life might read about them, and be inspired to make something better of themselves?

[Furyblade_Lee]

Wow there! Many of us partake in sports do we not? How many people on here look up to racing drivers or wish they were a top flight racer / rally driver? It is natural to look up to someone who is at the pinnacle of your chosen sport. Not hero worship, but follow their career and celebrate there achievments. Because frankly most of us are not good enough, or do not have the dedication to get that good. Good on 'em i say. Any any athletes who can inspire our nation of fat kids to get involved in physical activity is a good thing. I especially welcome things like mountain biking and BMX racing. Sounds daft, but most fat kids have a bike and it is far easier for them to be inspired and jump on it than go and find themselves a dressage horse or sailing dinghy. I do not think its fair to knock the sportsmen / women personally. Knock the actuall saddos that do the "Hero Worshipping", not the Athletes. Remember all the saddo olive-oil swigging, 4x4 driving, private school mums on Henman Hill every August ??? NOW THEY ARE SAD!

[anonymous-user]

singlecoil said:

BMWBen said:

I think that what you're missing is just how good they are at the sports that they partake in.

Perhaps what you are missing is that although they are very good, very good indeed, they only win if somebody even better doesn't turn up on the day. In other words, they need to be lucky as well as good.

And being a) good, and b) lucky is not heroic. Just good and lucky

Yeah that Bolt fellow was damn lucky that all the really quick guys stayed home.

The word hero is over used in society today but I would not denigrate these athletes in any way nor would I underestimate the positive effect that strong national sporting performance has on the mood and wellbeing of the general population.

[Furyblade_Lee]

Tim Brabants (gold and bronze medal winner) was a member of our car club with a GTM Libra he built himself . He is also an A+E doctor. And a World Champion. And Olympic gold medalist. He sold his car (and a lot else) to fund his Olympic dream. How can he be knocked for that?

[The Tea Boy]

singlecoil said:

BMWBen said:

I think that what you're missing is just how good they are at the sports that they partake in.

Perhaps what you are missing is that although they are very good, very good indeed, they only win if somebody even better doesn't turn up on the day. In other words, they need to be lucky as well as good.

And being a) good, and b) lucky is not heroic. Just good and lucky

but shirley this like saying that there has never been a best racing driver in the world, for instance in formula 1, shumacher was the best for a long time, but only because no one better turned up! i personally in my experiance of once being a competitor at county level (swimming) look apon the athletes as amazing i worked solidly for 7 yrs to get to a certain stage and was good at what i did, u dont know the half of what goes on behind the scenes, how much training etc, now im not saying they are heros someone who is a hero in my eyes is like someone said before jumping in a river or similar to save a life, or someone in the services who saves/helps save lives on a day to day basis, but i do think that the excelent athletes we have do deserve some recognition!
.
Matt

[BMWBen]

singlecoil said:

BMWBen said:

singlecoil said:

BMWBen said:

I think that what you're missing is just how good they are at the sports that they partake in.

Perhaps what you are missing is that although they are very good, very good indeed, they only win if somebody even better doesn't turn up on the day. In other words, they need to be lucky as well as good.

And being a) good, and b) lucky is not heroic. Just good and lucky

The whole point of the olympics is that everyone who thinks they might be better DOES show up

Well, whether they show up or not doesn't change the fact that the actual winner needs to be lucky in order to win.

I disagree - take ben ainslie. Medals in 4 olympics so far. Won the last 2 convincingly, and is untouchable at all international competitions he partakes in.

He's not lucky, he's the best.

[Alexandra]

singlecoil said:

Yes, there were some very goood athletes, who trained very hard and tried very hard, but just because, on the day, they were lucky enough that nobody turned up who was better than them, that doesn't make them 'heroes'.

Since when has being a bit quicker at doing something than anybody else made a person a hero? Jumping into a freezing river to save somebody from drowning, now that's what makes somebody a hero. Or saving the rest of the platoon from a hand grenade.

If you look at the definition of the word, many people fit the description, and none are any less worthy than the others. Who is to say that given the circumstances these Olympians would not have matched your definition in battle, or perhaps that soldiers et al. in the second World War would not have been top Olympians if given the opportunity?

Your 'lucky' argument is a moot point. That could be applied to anyone, from Bill Gates to Archimides.

Definitions said:

1 a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength; "RAF pilots were the heroes of the Battle of Britain"
2 the principal character in a play or movie or novel or poem
3 champion: someone who fights for a cause
4 Greek mathematician and inventor who devised a way to determine the area of a triangle and who described various mechanical devices (first century)
5 (classical mythology) a being of great strength and courage celebrated for bold exploits; often the offspring of a mortal and a god
6 (Greek mythology) priestess of Aphrodite who killed herself when her lover Leander drowned while trying to swim the Hellespont to see her
7 bomber: a large sandwich made of a long crusty roll split lengthwise and filled with meats and cheese (and tomato and onion and lettuce and condiments); different names are used in different sections of the United States
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

hero

• noun (pl. heroes) 1 a person, typically a man, who is admired for their courage or outstanding achievements. 2 the chief male character in a book, play, or film. 3 (in mythology and folklore) a person of superhuman qualities.

— ORIGIN Greek heros.
http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/hero

With what is happening to the UK at present, perhaps we should be celebrating people like these, who give children inspiration, and adults hope, that perhaps Great Britain is still a worthy place.