Does the public have the right to criticize an Olympian’s weight?
Seems to me that the obvious answer is "no," but I thought I'd throw it out there for discussion:
www.theglobeandmail.com/.../
Does the public have the right to criticize an Olympian’s weight?
Seems to me that the obvious answer is "no," but I thought I'd throw it out there for discussion:
www.theglobeandmail.com/.../
The photo from 2008 was waist up, so it wasn't even a good comparison.
But it would seem they're trying to assess how she will perform based on her weight. Athletes are judged for their physique in many sports, so I'd say that it's not out of bounds. It could definitely be a distraction for her, so it's not very useful to point it out now. If she doesn't swim well, I think it is a valid critique to be made after the fact.
Not just no but :censor: NO!!!!! Heck,coaches criticizing a female athletes weight is a problem more often than not.
While we are on the topic of idiot media,it galls me how people who have no idea what competition means make such inane statements as"you don't win silver,you lose gold." A silver Olympic medal is a much bigger accomplishment than what those people will likely ever do.
Does the public/press have the *right* to do so? Sure. Armchair athletes/coaches the world over do it all the time, usually with very little insight or merit. I guess in an odd way I'm glad that Australia is passionate enough about the sport of swimming to care.
Is it incredibly rude and ungrateful for her countrymen to criticize her right before the games, given all that she's done? Most definitely!
I dunno, maybe she won't medal this time. But she was good enough to make one of the best Olympic swim teams in the world, obviously she deserves a lot more respect.
Does the public/press have the *right* to do so? Sure. Armchair athletes/coaches the world over do it all the time, usually with very little insight or merit. I guess in an odd way I'm glad that Australia is passionate enough about the sport of swimming to care.
Is it incredibly rude and ungrateful for her countrymen to criticize her right before the games, given all that she's done? Most definitely!
I dunno, maybe she won't medal this time. But she was good enough to make one of the best Olympic swim teams in the world, obviously she deserves a lot more respect.
Good point, Chris. The question was ill-formed -- I simply stole the headline from an article. A better question would be "Should the public criticize an Olympian's weight?" Then it becomes more clearly a question of ethics or etiquette rather than a legal question.
The proof will be how well she swims. If she swims well, then her weight is irrelevant. If she doesn't swim well, then some will say it is her weight, but as we all know there can be many contributing factors. Saying it is her weight would just be speculation.
It seems to me that this is just another excuse to obsess over a female's weight, to stare at her pictures and think we have the right (there is that word again) to be sitting in judgement. The same thing that happens with actresses and singers who gain weight.
Poor Leisel! She may be heavier than she would like, but it doesn't seem to be slowing her down, does it? I have had some pretty hefty women clock me on the tennis courts and in the swimming pool as well - so we have no right to judge her athletic abilities on her figure. Some people actually perform better at heavier weights (wish that was me. . . ) and find it very difficult to control their appetite when exercising so strenuously all the dang time! Female athletes have enough image problems and concurrent eating disorders as it is.
It's never nice to comment on someone's weight, but fortunately, we still have some semblance of freedom of speech in this country. Maybe not for much longer, but we do have it. That doesn't mean we shouldn't exercise tact, however.
Here are a few names: Babe Ruth, Shaquille O'Neal, George Foreman, Pablo Sandoval, William Perry, John Daly. All professional athletes who have been criticized for their weight. I think there's an expectation that pros athletes should not look like most of their workout sessions were conducted at Krispy Kreme. I don't think Leisel Jones should get a free pass because she's a woman.
Poor Leisel! She may be heavier than she would like, but it doesn't seem to be slowing her down, does it?
Actually, yes. She's considerably slower now than she was at her peak. Her personal best in the 100 *** is 1:05.09 (from 2006). Her best time this year is 1:07.37, but let's wait to see how she does next week!
Who has suggested that?
Nobody, yet, but my point is why is this a story considering how many male professional athletes have been criticized for their weight?
Nobody, yet, but my point is why is this a story considering how many male professional athletes have been criticized for their weight?
Perhaps it was wrong for them to be criticized as well.
