Too healthy for the Olympics

Knocked Out of Olympics, Russell Deals With Disappointment

The routine nature of the self-abuse discussed here is so distressing to me. This is athletics? This is sport? This is healthy pursuit of greatness?

How is this different than taking steroids, or "performance-enhancing" drugs? How is this different from behaviors that trigger eating disorders?

Why is it okay to do this to oneself.

This man didn't fail at his sport, his body failed to cooperate in hurting him more.

I used to love the Olympics. Now I can barely stomach it.**

By far, the most bizarre and ironic part is this: "I came in 100 percent healthy"

** And that's even before we bring up human rights, Tibet and Darfur.

Comments

  1. Fortunately, the International Olympic Committee and various sport governing bodies are starting to take seriously the problem of eating disorders in athletics (see www.feast-ed.org discussion of the role of athletics in EDs.) One of the problems, in my opinion, is that sports with weight classifications usually don't put an upper limit on height for a particular weight class. Consequently, an athlete who is, say, 5'10" is eligible to compete as a lightweight rower as long as she weighs less than 130 pounds. In other words, her BMI must stay below 18 to be eligible. Not a healthy situation, especially for an adolescent. Some colleges have responded by putting an upper height limit on lightweight rowers, a step in the right direction.

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