The Dark Side of Olympics

“Citius, Altius, Fortius – Communiter” Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together.

This is the Olympic motto. But is it true?

Yes, as the years go on athletes are getting faster, going higher and are much stronger. If you put an athlete today against an athlete 50 years ago, there would be no competition. The athletes today are better.

But together? Are the athletes together?

It seems like there are some people who will try to achieve this out-of-this-world standard no matter the cost. Cheating, doping, self-harm training, eating disorders, and shortcutting results to one up the other.

And sadly, it’s been like this for years. But it seems like it just keeps getting worse.

But it’s not new. Doping in the Olympics has knowingly been happening since the 60s when the first athlete was caught. Then the infamous wave of East German athletes in the 70s and 80s. Russia has even been banned for the last couple of Olympics, even though the athletes are still allowed to compete.

But the United States isn’t innocent. There have been scandals mixed throughout the years in various sports. Even though there hasn’t been a scandal with doping as large as other countries, there are still some athletes, coaches, trainers and family members encouraging them to sneak a little extra in.

The everyone else is doing it mentality. You gotta keep up with the Jones even if it’s wrong rationalization. The no one will find out lack of character and integrity inner voice.

Maybe the Olympics should change their motto to Faster, Higher, Stronger – At all cost.

But is a gold medal worth it? If it causes harm to your body? Athletes training and starving themselves to be in peak condition. Coaches pushing their protégés to push through the pain and if you need a little something, I know a guy to get you what you need. Parents demanding perfection from an early age in brainwashing fashion.

A gold medal may be nice, but is it worth all the physical and mental damage that may not be discovered until years later?

Maybe if we want the Olympics to be better for the world the motto should be changed.

Cleaner, Safer, Truer – Together

Yeah…I like the sound of that.

But there will always be one person who won’t follow those rules and then once again the beautiful image will grow tarnished with more and more people secretly following to keep up to the untruthful standard.

Good luck athletes in being true to yourself and the people looking up to you.

Peace