Competition

I watched the Olympics on TV yesterday, since I can get the Canadian station that shows it happening live. In this picture, Jennifer Heil (on the left) settled for a silver medal in the mogul freestyle competition because Hannah Kearney beat her out for the gold medal by less than one point. It turns out that Canada is the only country never to have won a gold medal on its own turf. Heil was on track to win that first gold medal until the last competitor of the day, Kearney, got a teeny bit higher score.

It was hard to watch Jennifer try to smile, try to be happy with the silver medal, because she was so close. I'm sure there are lots of people who love competition, but sometimes I wonder. So much striving to be the world's best: is it a good thing or not! "The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat."

Does somebody decide to try to be the best in the world or does competition drive it? I couldn't help but think, as I watched the ski jumpers getting points for the longest run PLUS style points, of the judges sitting down below looking at all the nuances of the jump, nitpicking every little thing and mysteriously giving or taking points.

I'm sure that Canada will get a gold medal in these Olympics, and that I will love watching the sports, but I can't help but wonder if competition is good for the soul...
:-]