Quitters, Winners: not the Same Thing

Even as India celebrated Neeraj Chopra winning its only gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, Leher Kala wrote this piece wondering whether the world has gone to the other extreme where it sympathizes, even pedestalizes, the athlete who quits in the middle of the Olympics because the pressure was too much. (She was referring to the US gymnast, Simone Biles).

 

True, the pressure is indeed very high in all international sports. But is the current tendency to pour out support for the likes of Biles going overboard? Sure, it’s one thing to understand why Biles may have dropped out, but the reaction goes far beyond that:

“Quitting is being hailed as some sort of noble act.”

 

Besides, who doesn’t face stress, even if it isn’t at the Olympics or in front of the camera?

“Stress is universal and a fear of failure haunts all of humanity… Not wanting to strive, resolutely, everyday, is rarely depression, anxiety — frightfully misused terms these days.”

Leher says it tongue-in-cheek, but I don’t think she’s too far off the mark of the danger of idolizing those who cave in under pressure:

“What would happen if soldiers became immobile thanks to panic attacks before battle? Or if doctors and nurses started having breakdowns and not showing up for duty?”

 

Is this a consequence of a world where kids have been/are being coddled with the “participation trophy” mindset?

“Even in India, progressive schools frown upon rankings — first, second, third is infra-dig and prizes are freely distributed not on merit, but for showing up.”

These lines below would fit perfectly into the mouths of several of Ayn Rand’s characters:

“This trend (of everyone is great in their own special way!) has infiltrated the discourse in all aspects of our lives. Drug addiction and alcoholism are “illness”, not poor decision-making. The conversation around obesity is fraught, dare one dwell on the huge health risks. Instead, ‘body positivity’ celebrates size in all its forms.”

 

Remember that slogan, “Winners don’t quit, quitters don’t win”? Sadly, instead we seem to be headed to a world where caustic title to Leher’s article is the new normal: “Quitting is the new Winning”.