are olympic medal winners heros?

27 Aug 2008

Bus parades? flag waving?
Is it right that we are making such a fuss over returning medal winners?.
I think its a bit i understand that some have taken years to get good at something like sailing a boat or paddling up steam.
Even bike riding.i can relate to that as i cycle lots of miles each week but really, come on now, its this all a bit to much?
Some of these people have had money thrown at them and some are from rich backgrounds using daddy's yacht to practise remember a lot of this money they have had you and i have payed from with lottery tickets!.so shouldnt we be giving each other a pat on the back? wheres my medal for all them tickets i bought? biggrin

Ok, so some bird won 2 medals at swimming and that hasnt been done for god knows how many years but be honest was it that the australians had a bad year? or america didnt field the right person for that event?.
I just dont get this building up of people and all that flag waving today looked like a loyalist estate.
today i think we forget what real heros are.
I went to omaha out to tried to picture what it was like trying to get off landing craft while watching everyone around being cut down by machine gun nests.
Some of them people didnt even get off the craft, some drowned in the water because of all the equipment they were carrying.
And when they did get out of the water what faced them.
Hundreads of yards of beach open to fire from all angles.
Some just waited and waited for hours pinned down unable to move as they watched wave after wave of men mowed down before them.
Until you go there,see it with your own eyes, you just cannot understand the sheer effort needed and horror of what must have faced them they overcome great odds to defeat the enemy.
When you see the hundreads of head stones lined up i challenge anyone not to be moved by it.
If it wasnt for these brave people who put it all on the line there would not have been any games.
Now you tell are the real heros?

27 Aug 2008

In a word.
Yes.
They are an inspiration to kids to get off their backsides and strive to be the top of their sports. All olympians, from every country, are sporting heros.
The example you gave are war heros and different. Same as police heros, fire heros, medical heros, workplace heros, family heros, public heros, etc.
Dave_Notts

27 Aug 2008

I don't think they are heroes, but I do believe they deserve all the hype, pomp and ceromony, as they have to work very hard to get to that standard. We are a very small country compared to others competing and don't have the resouces or finances that many have to allow our athletes to train.
It is their commitment, guts and sheer determination that got them the medals and if that is not a good role model for our young and worth celebrating, then I don't know what is. Let the celebrations go on for as long as they want, that's what I say.

27 Aug 2008

Quote by venus68
snip I don't think they are heroes, but I do believe they deserve all the hype, pomp and ceromony, as they have to work very hard to get to that

Couldn't have put it better myself :thumbup:

27 Aug 2008

Quote by
hero -
1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.

Given the endless hours of training, sacrifice and effort required to become top of their field then I think the word hero fits.
It takes a lot of bravery to be able to compete in the games ( imagine how many people are watching).
They may not be heroes in the same vein as the armed forces, etc but it takes the same amount of dedication and spirit.

27 Aug 2008

Quote by Calista
hero -
1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.

Given the endless hours of training, sacrifice and effort required to become top of their field then I think the word hero fits.
It takes a lot of bravery to be able to compete in the games ( imagine how many people are watching).
They may not be heroes in the same vein as the armed forces, etc but it takes the same amount of dedication and spirit.
This is where for me the word 'hero' does not fit. I don't look at the olympic winners and admire them for their bravery and noble qualities, but I do admire them for their ability to be so focussed, hard working and inspirational.
To me someone who is brave is risking their life in some way or doing something not for themselves, but to help someone else. Athletes are doing this for themselves first, even if that focus is to make someone else proud of them. There is also nothing to show that they are noble characters either, although I'm sure they are all dedicated and nice people.
I don't think winning 8 medals makes someone a hero, it makes them very good at what they do.

27 Aug 2008

Quote by Dave__Notts
In a word.
Yes.
They are an inspiration to kids to get off their backsides and strive to be the top of their sports. All olympians, from every country, are sporting heros.
The example you gave are war heros and different. Same as police heros, fire heros, medical heros, workplace heros, family heros, public heros, etc.
Dave_Notts

Well said Dave.
The definition of hero is this..
1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
2. a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal: He was a local hero when he saved the drowning child.
The term regarded as a model meaning a role model sums these sportpeople up.
Sounds like a typical liberal saying about all this flag waving. God we dont have much to cheer about in this country now and when we do, others seem to slag it off.
To be honest I am not that ok with peoples attitudes over the sportspeople who have done us proud, to then slag them off! What would you rather have happened?
I think they are heroes and am proud of all of them, and I think they deserved all the " flag waving ". At least they have achieved something in their lives, unlike so many of the whingers out there. Good on ya team GB, take all the applause you get.

27 Aug 2008

Quote by kentswingers777
In a word.
Yes.
They are an inspiration to kids to get off their backsides and strive to be the top of their sports. All olympians, from every country, are sporting heros.
The example you gave are war heros and different. Same as police heros, fire heros, medical heros, workplace heros, family heros, public heros, etc.
Dave_Notts

Well said Dave.
The definition of hero is this..
1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
2. a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal: He was a local hero when he saved the drowning child.
The term regarded as a model meaning a role model sums these sportpeople up.
Sounds like a typical liberal saying about all this flag waving. God we dont have much to cheer about in this country now and when we do, others seem to slag it off.
To be honest I am not that ok with peoples attitudes over the sportspeople who have done us proud, to then slag them off! What would you rather have happened?
I think they are heroes and am proud of all of them, and I think they deserved all the " flag waving ". At least they have achieved something in their lives, unlike so many of the whingers out there. Good on ya team GB, take all the applause you get.
You seem quite keen on labeling people or their opinions Liberal just lately dunno

and I havent seen anyone slag them off either .....

27 Aug 2008

Quote by Steve
In a word.
Yes.
They are an inspiration to kids to get off their backsides and strive to be the top of their sports. All olympians, from every country, are sporting heros.
The example you gave are war heros and different. Same as police heros, fire heros, medical heros, workplace heros, family heros, public heros, etc.
Dave_Notts

Well said Dave.
The definition of hero is this..
1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
2. a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal: He was a local hero when he saved the drowning child.
The term regarded as a model meaning a role model sums these sportpeople up.
Sounds like a typical liberal saying about all this flag waving. God we dont have much to cheer about in this country now and when we do, others seem to slag it off.
To be honest I am not that ok with peoples attitudes over the sportspeople who have done us proud, to then slag them off! What would you rather have happened?
I think they are heroes and am proud of all of them, and I think they deserved all the " flag waving ". At least they have achieved something in their lives, unlike so many of the whingers out there. Good on ya team GB, take all the applause you get.
You seem quite keen on labeling people or their opinions Liberal just lately dunno

and I havent seen anyone slag them off either .....
Am I not entitled to my opinion then? :shock: You seem to have your opinions too at times. So you can and I cant? :dunno:
What about the " Using Daddys yacht "? Maybe the word " slagging off " could be a bit strong does anyone know where that money came from to support them? Maybe they did not have a Daddys yacht, maybe it was down to one thing...hard work and nothing else?

27 Aug 2008

Quote by kentswingers777
Am I not entitled to my opinion then? :shock: You seem to have your opinions too at times. So you can and I cant?

I dont recall saying you weren't entitled to an opinion :dunno: I simply gave my take on your opinion ;-)

Quote by kentswingers777
What about the " Using Daddys money "? How does anyone know where that money came from to support them?

What about "Daddy's money" :dunno:

27 Aug 2008

Quote by Steve

Am I not entitled to my opinion then? :shock: You seem to have your opinions too at times. So you can and I cant?

I dont recall saying you weren't entitled to an opinion :dunno: I simply gave my take on your opinion ;-)

Quote by kentswingers777
What about the " Using Daddys money "? How does anyone know where that money came from to support them?

What about "Daddy's money" :dunno:
That was a miss quote and has now been changed. You obviously replied before I changed it. Money was not mentioned...I jumped the gun there. lol

27 Aug 2008

Quote by kentswingers777

Am I not entitled to my opinion then? :shock: You seem to have your opinions too at times. So you can and I cant?

I dont recall saying you weren't entitled to an opinion :dunno: I simply gave my take on your opinion ;-)

Quote by kentswingers777
What about the " Using Daddys money "? How does anyone know where that money came from to support them?

What about "Daddy's money" :dunno:
That was a miss quote and has now been changed. You obviously replied before I changed it. Money was not mentioned...I jumped the gun there. lol

Okley Dokley :thumbup:
It is a sad fact that to get ahead in sport these days one must be either privilaged or lucky.....
Using "Daddy's Yacht" is a by product of the former I suppose.....
Sport in this country needs to be and should be funded more and from all aspects of society but personally I still dont regard them as hero's....
Not in the way I think of someone as being a hero/heroic...
I take nothing away from their performances and I am proud that this country has won medals and been represented to such a high standard :thumbup:

27 Aug 2008

Quote by tyracer
B
Some of these people have had money thrown at them and some are from rich backgrounds using daddy's yacht to practise remember a lot of this money they have had you and i have payed from with lottery tickets!.so shouldnt we be giving each other a pat on the back? wheres my medal for all them tickets i bought?
Now you tell are the real heros?

Can I just point out the word "some", you are possibly right, "some" do, however I'd be more inclined to believe that most don't. Most come from ordinary families who recognise a talent in their child and scrimp and save to get their child a coach and pay for entry to various athletic meets around the country in an attempt to get some recognition for their child's effort.
I the £1 I spend on a lottery ticket goes towards getting kids off the streets, away from drugs and into something structured, that's good for them, gives them good self esteem, then it will be the best £1 I've spent that week!
Many of our Olympians are discovered through amateur athletics, it's only when you win medals and become "famous" that money isn't an issue. Many athletes work full/part time jobs as well as train for may hours.

27 Aug 2008

Heroes? No.
Hard working, yes.
As someone who once represented my country many years ago I can appreciate the work, determination and the giving up of a normal life, but I'm ambivalent about the pomp and circumstance. I partly support it in that it's a public thank you for the kids' effort, but on the other hand I revile it. It's hypocritical and two-faced. We make such a song and dance about our returning athletes yet they get fuck all support on the way to getting the skills, endurance and talent. This country is piss poor at supporting athletes yet all of a sudden when they return with lots of medals they are returning heroes.
So why aren't they heroes before they go?

27 Aug 2008

Quote by Peanut
Heroes? No.
Hard working, yes.
As someone who once represented my country many years ago I can appreciate the work, determination and the giving up of a normal life, but I'm ambivalent about the pomp and circumstance. I partly support it in that it's a public thank you for the kids' effort, but on the other hand I revile it. It's hypocritical and two-faced. We make such a song and dance about our returning athletes yet they get fuck all support on the way to getting the skills, endurance and talent. This country is piss poor at supporting athletes yet all of a sudden when they return with lots of medals they are returning heroes.
So why aren't they heroes before they go?

They are in my book as they have earned the right through hard work and determination to get there at that level.
But I see where you are coming from too.

27 Aug 2008

Quote by Steve
In a word.
Yes.
They are an inspiration to kids to get off their backsides and strive to be the top of their sports. All olympians, from every country, are sporting heros.
The example you gave are war heros and different. Same as police heros, fire heros, medical heros, workplace heros, family heros, public heros, etc.
Dave_Notts

Well said Dave.
The definition of hero is this..
1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
2. a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal: He was a local hero when he saved the drowning child.
The term regarded as a model meaning a role model sums these sportpeople up.
Sounds like a typical liberal saying about all this flag waving. God we dont have much to cheer about in this country now and when we do, others seem to slag it off.
To be honest I am not that ok with peoples attitudes over the sportspeople who have done us proud, to then slag them off! What would you rather have happened?
I think they are heroes and am proud of all of them, and I think they deserved all the " flag waving ". At least they have achieved something in their lives, unlike so many of the whingers out there. Good on ya team GB, take all the applause you get.
You seem quite keen on labeling people or their opinions Liberal just lately dunno

and I havent seen anyone slag them off either .....
You have probably been reading minxys thread about leftie liberals maybe. :dunno:
That was purely a joke between the two of us as we know each other, as I am sure she would say.
The comments made which were directed at minxy were purely tongue in cheek, as she well knows, but can understand others not knowing that and seeing it as something else....I thought I would just clarify that. cool

27 Aug 2008

Quote by Peanut
Heroes? No.
Hard working, yes.
As someone who once represented my country many years ago I can appreciate the work, determination and the giving up of a normal life, but I'm ambivalent about the pomp and circumstance. I partly support it in that it's a public thank you for the kids' effort, but on the other hand I revile it. It's hypocritical and two-faced. We make such a song and dance about our returning athletes yet they get fuck all support on the way to getting the skills, endurance and talent. This country is piss poor at supporting athletes yet all of a sudden when they return with lots of medals they are returning heroes.
So why aren't they heroes before they go?

The reason that we have returned with so many medals is becuase now we are recognising talent, and providing the funding and support and structure there to do so.
Yes, some sports are seriously still lacking in support, but the success in other disciplines means more funding for others and greater support in future.
I think you are wrong to say support is lacking.
Swimming and cycling have had a massive boost prior to these olympics and have shown the results of this with the medal haul- it was not just because australia had an 'off day' or that america 'fielded the wrong player' as someone else said it was down to the years of development work put in prior, which can't have happened without financial and government support and local council support.
At the moment, gymnastics is having a boost to funding and coaching programmes and has an excellent development structure and support system in place for 2012, but this year to even come close to nations as huge as china and USA is amazing in this sport.
Gymnastics, also not just a sport where you need daddies money to do it- it is one of the 3 main preschool sports available to children in council run programmes, so open access to everyone and funded by lottery programmes and council, and yeh, I'm happy that my tax money goes towards this, and if we can identify talent and produce some talented gymnasts on the way, who are dedicated to start training a minimum of 9 hours a week aged 5, to over 35 hours a week at the peak say aged 17, then yes, i class these athletes as heroes and more importantly role models.
Yes, support and funding isn't the same accross the board, accross the country, but it is getting there!
m x

27 Aug 2008

good debate this. biggrin

27 Aug 2008

Quote by Steve
snip I don't think they are heroes, but I do believe they deserve all the hype, pomp and ceromony, as they have to work very hard to get to that

Couldn't have put it better myself :thumbup:
Nor me :thumbup:

27 Aug 2008

Oh what a lot of miserable b****ds.
Okay these people aren't heroes, they haven't saved a life or improved humanity. But they have put a smile on peoples faces.
Who cares about the credit crunch when we (great britain) are aussie bashing on the sporting field?

27 Aug 2008

Quote by keeno
Oh what a lot of miserable b****ds.
Okay these people aren't heroes, they haven't saved a life or improved humanity. But they have put a smile on peoples faces.
Who cares about the credit crunch when we (great britain) are aussie bashing on the sporting field?

It does make ya laugh keeno.
I can count on one hand how many times we have had anything to cheer about in this country, over the last 20 years. All it seems is doom and gloom. Now we have something to cheer about, something to be proud of as a nation, people are just sooooo quick to run it all down. I just cannot understand peoples mentality at times. :shock:
I am bloody proud of our athletes and our soldiers, both have done us proud as a nation, and let us not bloody forget.

27 Aug 2008

Quote by keeno
Who cares about the credit crunch when we (great britain) are aussie bashing on the sporting field?

Oh I do love a bit of Aussie bashing wink

When GB overtook Aussie in the medal table there was a great cheer here. :happy:
Oh and btw it's even better when the twat aussie said on TV that Britain has a few more pools these days and they have discovered soap. mad

Revenge is sweet.

28 Aug 2008

Not heros, they get paid to do what they love.
I know they don't get paid alot, but they are still doing what they love.
Lifeboat men and women, now they are heros.

28 Aug 2008

This country is piss poor at supporting athletes yet all of a sudden when they return with lots of medals they are returning heroes.
Call me cynical, but isn't it strange that when this government is in the mire and Gordon's at the height of popularity, we are suddenly very interested in our athletes and talking about a UK football team (when we split the country!).

28 Aug 2008

Tyracer, I was going to quote you, but it takes up too much space.
I wonder if you (thats the Royal You, not a personal dig!) would say the same thing about football players? They have more money thrown at them than you could possibly believe - to a vulgar level.
What I also think has been forgotten in the comparison between these inspirational sporting heroes and the heroes from other walks of life (including those that gave their lives to help others) is that all this flag waving and back patting for the Olympic competitors (not just the medal winners!) will only last a few months. They'll get one congratulatory parade and then it's back to work. It'll be a celebration. Now compare that to Rememberance Day where we remember and give thanks to those that gaves their lives for our freedom. A very different day don't you think? And don't forget, this is a day we (hopefully) mark every year for ever more.
Just my opinion. Stop bashing people for doing well.
*Him*

28 Aug 2008

Getting a medal for anything you've worked hard for deserves praise but going as far as saying they are hero's? nah bit over the top in my opinion, putting your life on the line for the good of your country makes you a hero not running round a race track, only my opinion tho smile

28 Aug 2008

My twopennarth -
Whether they are heroes or not depends on your interpretation of the word, not on what they have achieved, so we could go on forever debating that.
But I think the pomp, ceremony, adulation, fame, all that stuff, serves a need - it's a national morale boost, it unites people with a feel-good factor, and, imo, is as much a reflection on what makes the public happy, as it is a celebration of the sporting achievements.

28 Aug 2008

Quote by Cherrytree
My twopennarth -
Whether they are heroes or not depends on your interpretation of the word, not on what they have achieved, so we could go on forever debating that.
But I think the pomp, ceremony, adulation, fame, all that stuff, serves a need - it's a national morale boost, it unites people with a feel-good factor, and, imo, is as much a reflection on what makes the public happy, as it is a celebration of the sporting achievements.

I agree :thumbup:
Lets celebrate any major acheivements in this country and try to get that old National Pride feeling prevolant once more..

28 Aug 2008

I have also read thru this....... and my 2 cents worth is coming....
If the deeds of someone like a Rebecca Adlington, or a Chris Hoy can inspire the kids to do something and be a better person for me then I think that the "hero" tag is justifed......they are both humble enough to not see themselves as such
I would use the same defination for a soldier, or a teacher or a policeman......if that person inspires someone into wanting to make a difference and wanting to better themselves that
I think in a way we have lost our innocence....
When I was 8 years old..... I remember watching ian botham basically win the ashes..... how many kids did he inspire to play cricket..... or a seb coe and steve ovett in the athletics....
how many young girls were inspired by a nadia comaneci.......
I think the greed in the big money sports has clouded this conversation.........
most people do it for the love of there sport.... when i was younger I was a good all round athlete, played both sets of rugby and basketball to a county level, played american football at GB level......
would I have made money from it... no, never that good, do you think these athletes think of the money... hell no!!!!
full disclosure time..... I know 2 people in team GB who won medals.... one is a family friend, one is a person I met... and to know what sacrifice both of these people have been thru has been immense... they both have been into schools to help inspire the next generation of people......
the reperesent there country as well as any soldier, or policeman, or nurse.... and I would call those people heroes to me.... so to make a distinction is highly unfair.......

28 Aug 2008

So now a hero is someone who can run a bit faster, jump a bit higher or chuck something a bit further than someone else? I suppose the English language will now have to come up with a new term for the real heroes in life. rolleyes