Do You Have To Win All The Time?

[Anonymous]

German twins and training partners Anna and Lisa Hahner decided spontaneously to join hands as they crossed the finish line of Sunday's Olympic Marathon as number 1 and 2 respectively. Actually that's not true. The two sisters finished in position 81 and 82 respectively and just as quickly, the German track and field officials accused them of publicity seeking and treating the Olympic marathon “like a fun run.”

Not to belie these ladies accomplishments because I sure as hell could not have run a better race against the field, but when is the last time you got worked up that your country placed 81 and 82, which is I'm sorry to say, so far from the medal stands that this really should not have been news worthy except it's two sisters, twins, just enjoying that the two finished around the same time. Yes, this is an Olympics, and you should try and do your best, but even if one had sprinted out there knocking the other sister down to the ground in an effort to get a better position, what actual difference would it have made? Her best was 81. If anything, it is the German's who have turned this into something bigger than it is because now a lot of people are talking about their strong reaction to something a lot of people were hailing as being just a sweet moment in the vein of the Olympic Spirit.

Thomas Kurschilgen, sports director of the German Athletics Federation, said in an email on Tuesday, "Victory and medals are not the only goal, still, every athlete in the Olympic competitions should be motivated to demonstrate his or her best performance and aim for the best possible result. " Kurschilgen went on to say that this approach is what divides elite sport from mass-participation sport and what he thinks the Hahners failed to grasp. “Their main aim was to generate media attention,” he said. “That is what we criticize.”

Well, I'm not German, and perhaps this is the sentiment felt by German's too, I can't speak for them, but again, according to the women they did do their best, they did separate from each other during the race, and they just happened to finish close together and decided to cross the finish line together. What more could they really have done to have improved upon their two standings? As Kurschilgen said himself, victory and medals are not the only goal, and I too believe that. There have been so many poignant moments this Olympic games, so many siblings competing against one another, so many athletes showing true sportsmanship, so many countries firsts, that I think we should also shed light on that too.

[flypaper]

The goal in long distance running is not to beat your opponent but to beat yourself, this is my humble opponent as a runner myself. I relish in all the wins of the people around me and we drive and push each other... granted I've never been in the Olympics which I am sure is more cut throat but that is the beauty of the sport at least for me as a runner. Everyone beating themselves, that in it's self is a win. Long distance running generally pits a lot of people against each other at the same time... if you run against 1000s of people I have your chances of being in the top 3 are not high... it's not like other sports that usually have less competitors, you have to find another reason to do it other then "winning" in the normal vain of other sports. Every run that you beat your own time or your own circumstance is a win. Passing the finish line should be celebrated and what better way to do that then with someone you enjoy running with if that is where your love comes from. They probably train together and are pretty similar genetically so their times in general are probably closely matched. I see nothing wrong with this and don't think they were trying to garner any kind of publicity rather just enjoying their sport and are lucky enough to have someone enjoy it with them, someone who probably enjoys in the accomplishment of the other in every aspect of life and that is beautiful and something that can be done better in long distance running then in any other sport.

[myTake Owner]

This is why I don't really understand the German reaction. I hardly think, given that they are Olympic athletes, that their goal was to get 81 and 82... in order to get publicity. In other news, on the men's side, there were two other brothers who did have a chance at winning, and did, gold and silver respectively. The two ran to the end, each getting their best times, and collapsed together on the ground giving each other a hug. Since they had a chance to medal each, I wouldn't have expected them to run in together, and they didn't, but when you have no chance near the end of the race, it's just a matter of like you said, getting the best times and things you can for you and they said, hey, this was our best, like it or leave it.

[Fathoms77]

I'm sort of torn on this. There's no way to be sure of what their intention was, unless they flat-out admitted they did it for the attention.

And if they're 81st and 82nd, at that point, it really doesn't matter, right? I could see the complaint if they were in the home stretch racing for a medal, like one sister was in the Bronze Medal position and the other was fourth, and they decided to do this. THAT would be one helluva story and I do believe the Olympic Committee would have a valid complaint. This IS about competition, after all.

In this instance, though... I dunno. Not a big deal to me.

[myTake Owner]

That's basically it. People are getting so worked up like they had an actual chance. They weren't even in top ten, or hell, top 50 for that matter. Now if this had been me against my brother for Olympic glory and the only thing standing between me and bragging rights and a shinier medal was a short distance, family or not, I would have gunned it so damn hard my lungs would have exploded upon crossing the finish line, but 81 and 82, yeah, bro, let's just make sure we both cross because we've uh, totally lost so hard at that point, lol.

[Ray-98]

Pen pushers should learn to keep their mouth shut and let the athletes make the headlines.

The only reason this became a big story is because the German Athletics head had a go at them and said it was bad publicity. Ironically, if he had kept his mouth shut, hardly anyone would have seen the story and the ones who did would probably seen it as a nice gesture and nothing more.

[SensualScribe]

Personally, I don't think this was an attempt to get media attention. The attention was just a side effect. I think it was just them showing camaraderie. I don't know why all the negativity.

[myTake Owner]

To be fair, from the Opening ceremonies, as the athletes walked in just about every single sibling group was highlighted because it's just interesting facts to know that both you and your sibling, or siblings are both in the same exact games--so they already had a little extra attention before they even did this at this race... and again 81...82... they tried their best, but they weren't exactly close to the podium, so let's just let them enjoy the moment is what I feel.

[SensualScribe]

Yes, I agree. It is a great accomplishment even to make it to the Olympics and to have your sibling there with you is just awesome!

[NJ_Casanova]

I saw on the news that the Germany Olympic commit was upset with this. They said the twins didn't compete to the fullest of their abilities... because the one slowed down to do what they did. I think that is true as they should have put in their best efforts. Other athletes surely didn't make the olympics that deserved it more than these twins.

[myTake Owner]

Well I guess you'd have to explain what benefit or prize or standing they would have achieved being 81 and 82 in the race that would have made any significant difference anywhere. If you look at the tape, they held hands like the last 10 feet or something, not for 10 minutes of the race.

[NJ_Casanova]

The whole Olympic experience is to give it your all, never give up, try your best. It looks like they forgot that and made it about themselves and not about representing their country.

[Blueeyes81]

If one had fallen and the other stopped to help her up we'd be hearing about the human spirit for the next 20 years. I don't see any problem with this, they weren't going to win. It's a memory the twins will always have together.

[Oram52]

Victory and medals are the goal that is the exact point, that's why all the time and effort is put in. So your questions and the actual story are two different things. The sisters weren't going anywhere they were practically at the bottom so they decided to fiinish together, fair enough.

But apart from that yes you do everything to win even if it means crushing your twin sister. You play to win. Do everything it takes to win no matter what.

[myTake Owner]

This is why I've said I just don't get why the German's were worked up over this because they had no shot of placing, I hardly doubt getting a standing of 81 or 82 improves ones rankings in the world scene, and they tried their best and were in fact in different positions for most of the race. I hardly think shaming them for holding hands literally 10 or so feet before the finish line would have made any difference for anything involved here. Now there was another Olympic race with two Brit brothers who DID have a shot at Gold. The one brother got the gold, his other the silver and they collapsed at the end holding hands... after the race. I would do that. I'm crushing my brother if there is a shot, but 81 or 82... we might as well hobble across together b/c we already lost big time.

[abundantlyrich]

Twins always subconsciously find their way together.

What about that twin brother that met his twin brother and became his lover, but he didn't realise they were related until they found out they were given away for adoption and adoptive parents didn't tell them about that. They look 100% identical in looks. People joked they were twins 😛

[SleepingSnorlax]

If my brother and i were racing and i was the slower between the two i wouldn't want him to slow down and stay with me so we could finish at the same time
I also wouldn't insult him by slowing down if he was the slower between the two of us
Thats just how i look at it... im sure some people would like to "tie" their relatives
But this is the olympics... do that in some other race

[myTake Owner]

I've said as much in my other comment that if this was a medal standing race where I would get some actual benefit from pulling in a faster time, sure, but when you're 81 and 82... you don't actually get anything from achieving that time. It's also not as if the two had a prior agreement or talked to each other and one said to the other slow down for me because the two were either much far ahead or behind the other during the race, it just so happened spontaneously at that moment near the end that they crossed together.

[Loveherbut]

Yes im the type of person who is really judge himself harshly when i lose even when i win i need a reminder from people that i really did something
Until last year i realized its okay to lose if u really put all ur efforts sime people are plain assholes and wouldn't appreciate it so sometimes accepting this is part if winning then few months later I received an email reminding me of my efforts and i was chosen for that thats was the best way to get over what i lost

[Other_Tommy_Wiseau]

It's the idea of fixing races and competitions that's the problem. It was harmless, but you can see that this can create a can of worms the IOC and sports in general don't wanna deal with

[myTake Owner]

Believe me, I understand all of that... if these ladies had been anywhere near the front of the pack or were in any kind of contention for world records, medals, Olympic records, of course, but they are on the same team, are siblings, and finished 81 and 82. There was literally no danger of that, and I'm sorry, you don't fix a race by getting into 81 or 82 place. No one is betting on that.

[Other_Tommy_Wiseau]

I agree with that it's harmless, but again, the amount of possibilities it can open up is ridiculous. It means that theoretically, it could be allowed for higher profile athletes. Also allowing bookies to get into there by talking over/under on times, not just place. Those are just off the top of my head and short enough to explain without writing an essay 😂

[Anonymous]

If you don't win then what's the point in life? You exist today writing this because you WON.

https://youtu.be/GGXzlRoNtHU

[Puppylove94]

No I'm not very competitive. I'd say on competitive most with myself

[Dred1614returns]

It's a very nice gesture, seeing that they weren't anywhere near winning.

[Sabretooth]

more then not... i'm usually fighting alone with people who have nothing better to do pick fights.