Olympic Ideal - Rise, Fall, Struggle and Redemption

There has been much said already about the inspiration to be drawn from Team GB's medal haul last Saturday. However, Saturday did not have a monopoly on important Olympic moments. There is also some good to be taken from the 100m Olympic semi-finals and Dwain Chambers.

It stands as a major achievement because, for a long time, it didn't look like Dwain Chambers would ever run at a major championship ever again. Chambers was banned in 2003, for two years, after testing positive for a performance enhancing drug (Mackay, 2003).

But Chambers also faced a lifetime ban imposed on him by the British Olympic Association (BOA) - the organisation that select and run the British Olympic team.

Chambers' original ban punished the act of cheating - and the breaking of Coubertin's ideals: The important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle, the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.

So what then was the lifetime ban punishing? By seeking to block Chambers from having a shot at redeeming himself once his ban ended, the BOA were taking a deeply reactionary response to Chambers - a reaction that aimed to make an example of him. In doing so the BOA failed to treat the athlete as an individual, or his case with due regard for the rules, and so found itself failing to comply with the spirit of the games - all in its hurry to make a point quickly and 'hysterically'. The lifetime ban was finally overturned (Guardian, 2012) - just months before the London Games - when it was also found to have failed to comply with the World Anti-Doping Agency rules.

Altogether Chambers' career has followed the path of the tragic heroes: the rise to prominence, the fall from grace - but also the chance for an act of redemption. Previously punished for cheating, he earned the right to compete once more; proved his fitness and qualified.

So while 'Super-Saturday' was a great moment for British sport, Chambers' answer when asked to sum up the whole occasion was also worth seeing (BBC, 2012):

Chambers:    I'm happy to be here man. I really am.
Interviewer: Was it worth all the heartache in the build up?
Chambers:    Yes. It was worth every moment of it. To feel that roar and be in this atmosphere again - money can't buy that and I'm glad I've fought so hard to get to this position.'

Chamber's answer reflects the importance that Coubertin placed upon the struggle over the triumph - and that through striving well there is more to be earned at the Olympics than medals.

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References:
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+ Duncan Mackay's 'UK's top sprinter in positive drug test'; 22 October 2003.

+ The Guardian's 'London 2012: Wada accuses BOA of making "hysterical statements"'; 30 April 2012.

+ BBC's 'Athletics: Finals'; from 1:11:00; 5 August 2012.