A thread no one asked for on the myth of medals equaling happiness and how we have to change what we're selling in sport for the health of the people involved. https://digest.bps.org.uk/2019/04/26/is-it-true-that-its-more-painful-to-come-second-rather-than-third-new-insights-from-the-2016-olympics/

So the issue with this type of work is the idea that winning a medal is a meaningful source of happiness. Medals, just like a new car, won't make someone happy for very long. Maybe some satisfaction, but not lasting happiness.

A lot of athletes make the 'if i just get 'there' everything will be worth it' mistake. i'd argue a lot of Post-Games blues is the realization that nothing has really changed. Becoming an OLY is great, but if you were unhappy before, you're going to be unhappy after.

That can be super destabilizing. I think we need to more honest with athletes about the journey and expected outcomes. But that isn't easy when we focus as a nation and individuals on quadrennial outcomes. If we talk about medals all the time, not only are we writing off....

the performance of most of the team, including the coaches, staff...etc., but making it hard for people to find a healthier frame for "why" sport is worth it. I was lucky enough to win a medal, but I don't think about that moment when i reflect on my 15 years as an athlete.

the Games was one week of competition out of ~780 weeks of being an athlete, or ~1.3/10th of 1% of the time. To be clear the Games were amazing. A massive highlight. But I had to learn that they're not what I should use to decide if 15 years of my life were well spent.

The other 99.8% of the time I had dozens of international races, years in training camp, friends from across Canada and the world, and worked with great people in CDN sport. My career & the work of all those people, shouldn't be deemed "worth it" or not by one event.

But it's hard for an athlete to see that when all their told that matters is the outcome every four years. So, i think the thing we should be telling athletes, especially those on the fence about continuing is "don't do it because you think winning will make you happy...

or satisfied or make it all worth it. Do it because you actually like it and could honestly say you would still do it if you don't win or even make 'the team'." I'm not saying don't be dissapointed. Just don't make one outcome EVERYTHING.

Because a moment of success or failiure isn't a good measure of whether an effort was worth it or not. We need to be better at preparing athletes for that realization.

We see it @gameplandematch all the time. a "huh. that's it." realization after years of training. And that can suck. But, to be clear, it's 100% worth it, IF your eyes are open and you do it for the right reasons.

And for retired athletes, even if you're upset about your career and feel like it was a waste, you can find real satisfaction and meaning in it regardless of your results. Advisors are here to help.

In sum, message for athletes is: medals won't make you happy for very long no matter what colour they are. Try your hardest to win, but don't do it to win or because you think it will change you. Do it because you like it.