On the topic of “winning is the only thing that matters,” much has been said about young athletes who rightly should not be burdened with the idea of results, while they should focus on doing their best. I think, on the other hand, it has been little discussed in relation to absolute competitive sport and in reference to that limited but in the public eye represented by the very strong athletes. The Americans in their pragmatism coined the phrase: “from hero to zero” to identify that fine line on which these athletes walk who have an obligation to win.
Athletes know this rule of the game well, and no matter how talented and successful they are, they know they cannot match these expectations that would have them always on the podium, beautiful and smiling. It is because of this pressure they have to live with that suddenly their weaknesses emerge, those of Pellegrini with the anxiety attacks, those of Inter where the system of collaboration on the field that allowed the results of last season and many others has jammed. The easiest antidote to resort to is illegal doping and drug abuse.
The ecological antidote is living in an understanding and loving social environment (family and friends). It may not be enough, because the athlete must learn to live with this existential angst, which can be called competitive angst, which consists of knowing that one cannot always match one’s own expectations and those of others. One has to learn more about accepting one’s own limitations, especially those who are committed to enlarging them more and more. As Sartre said, one must want everything knowing that one cannot achieve it.
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