An Opinion Piece by Katie Uhlaender
7 August 2020: As a four time Olympian, I am encouraged to see a call to action by athletes to be valued and seen as humans. For years Olympic athletes have been used to fuel a multi-billion-dollar industry while most athletes can barely financially survive. In fact, athletes endure years of personal debt to represent their country. The lack of duty of care when it comes to financial stability and proper long-term health care provided by sporting organizations needs to be addressed and corrected. Athletes can no longer have their needs caste aside.
On the 6th of May 2017, Steven Holcomb, an Olympic Champion and my best friend, died in his room at the Olympic Training Center. Steven turned to alcohol abuse to escape his fears and anxieties as he approached retirement. Steven asked me why people did not care. He wondered- how could winning the Olympics be so valued and not at the same time? Sadly, Steven is not alone. The money and medals cannot trump the health and wellbeing of athletes.
It should not matter how many medals an athlete wins. All athletes must be treated with the utmost duty of care when competing and through their retirement. The current sporting culture that values results over individual well-being undoubtedly correlates with an increase in athlete suicides. Athletes are increasingly speaking out about their loss of identity and sense of hopelessness after performing, a phenomenon that some refer to as post-Olympic depression. The rollercoaster of emotions that an athlete endures both during their competitive years and post careers cannot be overlooked. Athletes are demanding that they be afforded benefits that will ensure their health and wellbeing are safeguarded.
Like never before, the reflection of social inequality is being exposed in sport. Athletic icons like Tommie Smith, John Carlos (1968) and many more today have been using their voices to highlight the need for change. The silent protests on the podium, the brave athletes exposing sexual abuse within USA Gymnastics, and now athletes speaking up about mental health struggles in the movie “The Weight of Gold” are revealing the ‘win at all costs’ environment that has brought sport to a very unhealthy place.
For years, athletes have been ignored or forced to stay silent on issues of sexual abuse, exploitation, mental health, and racism. You ask why? It is because athletes are told to stay silent. In fact, athletes are prohibited to stand up for social and personal justice on the field of play and podiums at the Olympic Games. Not only are they prohibited, they are punished if they decide to speak up. Speaking up on issues that deal with human rights, the conditions in which we perform, and our livelihood should not be punished. These organizations claim to exist for us, so why not listen to us?
Sport is meant to be an equalizer for all, a level playing field with the belief that we can all come together and push each other to discover what we are capable of, no matter our race or wealth. This requires a deep sense of purpose; a purpose that can be lost if the focus remains on ‘winning at all costs.’ Winning is a measure of equality and possibility; but it cannot be the sole definition of it. If it is, it creates exclusion of those just off the podium, no matter how marginal, cut off from all resources. This limits growth potential and even the value given to those that win.
Olympism claims to seek a way of life by blending sport with culture. It is based on the joy of effort, the value of good example, social responsibility and respect for universal ethical principles. The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the development of humankind. The practice of sport is a human right, without discrimination of any kind, which requires mutual understanding and fair play. [1] Sport gives us confidence from seeking our best and igniting a spark within that can carry us anywhere. The Olympic Spirit is not confined to sport, once you find it, it is lit and can guide you anywhere. Winning should not define that, as the price of winning at all costs is higher than we realized.
We are seeing hope for the future to reform the United States sport system. Just this last week the US Senate passed the Senate Bill 2330 TEAM USA ACT, the Empowering Olympic and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020. We as athletes must continue to stand together to urge the House of Representative to take up and pass S.2330 as soon as possible.
Athletes should be able to use their voice without a fear of retribution and be leading these discussions. Sport mirrors life and teaches us our values within a society from an early age. Only by coming together can sport or society tackle the issues that challenge both.
Reference:
1. 2020. Stillmed.Olympic.Org. https://stillmed.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/General/EN-Olympic-Charter.pdf.