Why Eric Heiden is Still a Hero for the Cynical Ex-Olympics Fan:
When I think of the greatest accomplishment in Olympic speedskating, I think of Eric Heiden winning the gold in all 5 events in 1980. But I can't admire an athlete for his accomplishments alone. I need to know something about his motivation. I need to know why he won. Did he do more than just "win the genetic lottery?"
Those of us who have traveled with the US Speedskating Team in the past few years have had the good fortune to spend some time with Dr. Eric Heiden. He sometimes travels with us as our team physician.
But it was only recently that I became interested in finding out more about his skating career. From the articles I found online, the thing that struck me the most was that Heiden was the perfect example of someone who didn't believe it was necessary to turn off his mind in order to be a great athlete.
I found out that the media didn't like him all that much; that he had a hard time compromising; and that people said that his attitude towards his 5-gold-medal performance was "cavalier, cynical, and disingenuous." I learned that he liked being "obscure in an obscure sport," and that he liked speedskating best when he was still a "nobody."
And then there was the controversy over the carrying of the torch in Salt Lake City...
Many people criticized Heiden for insisting that he be the last torch bearer -- the person who lights the actual Olympic cauldron. When that honor was instead bestowed upon the 1980 USA hockey team, he said he was "busy" and couldn't be one of the "other" torch bearers.
But some bloggers came to Heiden's defense. I found the following message posted on adequacy.org back on February 15, 2002:
"I despise the Olympics. I despise the lie that is "the Olympic spirit." I despise NBC (the US TV network that provides coverage for us USians).
I like Eric Heiden."
The author, who gives his name only as "doofus," goes on to defend Heiden's refusal to compromise on his position in the torch relay.
Doofus's brother answers his message with the following:
"I like Eric Heiden, too. He is such an exceptional person; Olympic multi-gold medalist and record holder, excellent bike racer and also an MD. He is a cool guy because he isn't a dumb jock or a spoiled brat prima donna.
He should be a good symbol to light the torch because of his accomplishments; those hockey players got lucky ONCE and never did shit with their lives afterwards, but since they beat the fucking Russkies 22 years ago in a Cold War Olympics and because we are now in a hot war on terrorism with an "Axis of Evil" then they win the honors."
I agree. Eric Heiden is a symbol of true Olympism; an individual whose achievements can inspire a person anywhere in the world. USA Hockey, on the other hand, seemed to represent a victory that indicated that God's favor rested with this particular superpower known as the USA. That was just what "Dubya" was looking for, if you ask me.
USA Hockey's victory over the Russians in 1980 may have been a "miracle," but Eric Heiden's 5 gold medals in speedskating demonstrated one man's tremendous determination and strength of will. It may be possible for a person who has brought himself to a certain level to win one race on "a charged atmosphere," such as that which seemed to carry the hockey team to victory. But it's not possible to win 5 races in the same Olympics in this way.
Am I surprised that the Salt Lake Organizing Committee did not choose Eric Heiden to light the Olympic cauldron? No, I am not. Do I consider him arrogant for turning down their consolation offer? No way!!! In fact, as a "Bribery Scandal Victim," I felt a surge of triumph when he shot them down for relegating him to the ranks of "also-ran."
In and of itself, the selection of the 1980 hockey team over Heiden for the lighting of the Olympic cauldron represents the victory of both politics and commercialism over the true meaning of the Olympics --( whatever that is, and whether it ever existed outside the minds of pre-teenaged children is another question.)
Back in 1980, after his victories, Eric Heiden dismissed the Olympics as "overrated." Were people right to call his attitude cavalier and disingenuous? I'd say that Heiden was an athlete who went into the Olympics with his eyes wide open, and without turning off his mind. I'd say his perspective on the Games was very mature for a 21-year-old.
I still don't know if Eric Heiden would be flattered or offended or merely annoyed that someone like me admires him. But I, too, aspire to be the kind of athlete who'd be admired by people who despise the Olympic Games.
When I think of the greatest accomplishment in Olympic speedskating, I think of Eric Heiden winning the gold in all 5 events in 1980. But I can't admire an athlete for his accomplishments alone. I need to know something about his motivation. I need to know why he won. Did he do more than just "win the genetic lottery?"
Those of us who have traveled with the US Speedskating Team in the past few years have had the good fortune to spend some time with Dr. Eric Heiden. He sometimes travels with us as our team physician.
But it was only recently that I became interested in finding out more about his skating career. From the articles I found online, the thing that struck me the most was that Heiden was the perfect example of someone who didn't believe it was necessary to turn off his mind in order to be a great athlete.
I found out that the media didn't like him all that much; that he had a hard time compromising; and that people said that his attitude towards his 5-gold-medal performance was "cavalier, cynical, and disingenuous." I learned that he liked being "obscure in an obscure sport," and that he liked speedskating best when he was still a "nobody."
And then there was the controversy over the carrying of the torch in Salt Lake City...
Many people criticized Heiden for insisting that he be the last torch bearer -- the person who lights the actual Olympic cauldron. When that honor was instead bestowed upon the 1980 USA hockey team, he said he was "busy" and couldn't be one of the "other" torch bearers.
But some bloggers came to Heiden's defense. I found the following message posted on adequacy.org back on February 15, 2002:
"I despise the Olympics. I despise the lie that is "the Olympic spirit." I despise NBC (the US TV network that provides coverage for us USians).
I like Eric Heiden."
The author, who gives his name only as "doofus," goes on to defend Heiden's refusal to compromise on his position in the torch relay.
Doofus's brother answers his message with the following:
"I like Eric Heiden, too. He is such an exceptional person; Olympic multi-gold medalist and record holder, excellent bike racer and also an MD. He is a cool guy because he isn't a dumb jock or a spoiled brat prima donna.
He should be a good symbol to light the torch because of his accomplishments; those hockey players got lucky ONCE and never did shit with their lives afterwards, but since they beat the fucking Russkies 22 years ago in a Cold War Olympics and because we are now in a hot war on terrorism with an "Axis of Evil" then they win the honors."
I agree. Eric Heiden is a symbol of true Olympism; an individual whose achievements can inspire a person anywhere in the world. USA Hockey, on the other hand, seemed to represent a victory that indicated that God's favor rested with this particular superpower known as the USA. That was just what "Dubya" was looking for, if you ask me.
USA Hockey's victory over the Russians in 1980 may have been a "miracle," but Eric Heiden's 5 gold medals in speedskating demonstrated one man's tremendous determination and strength of will. It may be possible for a person who has brought himself to a certain level to win one race on "a charged atmosphere," such as that which seemed to carry the hockey team to victory. But it's not possible to win 5 races in the same Olympics in this way.
Am I surprised that the Salt Lake Organizing Committee did not choose Eric Heiden to light the Olympic cauldron? No, I am not. Do I consider him arrogant for turning down their consolation offer? No way!!! In fact, as a "Bribery Scandal Victim," I felt a surge of triumph when he shot them down for relegating him to the ranks of "also-ran."
In and of itself, the selection of the 1980 hockey team over Heiden for the lighting of the Olympic cauldron represents the victory of both politics and commercialism over the true meaning of the Olympics --( whatever that is, and whether it ever existed outside the minds of pre-teenaged children is another question.)
Back in 1980, after his victories, Eric Heiden dismissed the Olympics as "overrated." Were people right to call his attitude cavalier and disingenuous? I'd say that Heiden was an athlete who went into the Olympics with his eyes wide open, and without turning off his mind. I'd say his perspective on the Games was very mature for a 21-year-old.
I still don't know if Eric Heiden would be flattered or offended or merely annoyed that someone like me admires him. But I, too, aspire to be the kind of athlete who'd be admired by people who despise the Olympic Games.
posted by Eva at 7:13 PM
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