Song Xingyu, a Chinese speed skater, has been banned from national competition for one year, because he couldn't resist giving a one-fingered salute to a group of equally rude spectators after he crossed the finish line of the 10,000m event at the National Games in northeast China. The whole story is available at theage.com.au.
Competitive athletes are often the recipients of verbal and visual abuse from spectators who have unreasonably high expectations or hope for exceptionally weak performances – depending on whose team they are cheering for at an event. It is times like these when the athlete has to be the better person and ignore rants and raves. The ability to perform above the level of others includes a lot of mental and moral strength, too.
Competitive athletes are often the recipients of verbal and visual abuse from spectators who have unreasonably high expectations or hope for exceptionally weak performances – depending on whose team they are cheering for at an event. It is times like these when the athlete has to be the better person and ignore rants and raves. The ability to perform above the level of others includes a lot of mental and moral strength, too.
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