With the Olympics less than a day away, newspapers have begun increased scrutiny of each competitor at this year's Games.
As a former swimmer currently struggling with weight issues, I was most interested in the article about Australian swimmer Leisel Jones' weight gain.
This article brought up a lot of interesting points. Besides some of the more obvious -- like maybe Jones is burnt out & isn't swimming quite the same yardage she did for previous Olympics, or perhaps even that she has had some injury or health problem that has prevented her from working out as much as she'd prefer to. Heck, even her age has something to do with it I'm sure!
But really, Jones qualified for the Olympics. In swimming, not only do you have to be the top in your country, but you have to meet the qualifying standards. She wouldn't be going if she hadn't qualified, and just because she's added a few pounds since the last time she was in the spotlight doesn't mean she won't perform just as well.
London's focus with the 2012 Olympics was on increasing the health and fitness of its people...and although it fell short of this goal it got me to thinking -- Olympians are the pinnacle of athletic success. Millions of children worldwide watch as their heroes compete to be the best of the best. What are we telling them if we emphasize Jones' weight gain as opposed to her many accomplishments?
What are your thoughts?
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