This week we witnessed one of the greatest sporting achievements in Australian history -Cadel Evans winning the Tour de France. The reaction from individuals in response to Evans' win has been astounding and has been felt across the globe. To most, this is a feel good news story that brings about a sense of pride to be an Australian. However, as evident in Mia Freedman's comments on the Today Show, where she publicly dissed Evans, it appears that not everyone feels the same amount of pride and excitement with Evans claiming the victory and being labelled as a hero. While everyone is entitled to there own opinion, the platform that Freedman declared hers was possibly not the most appropriate and as such she has received a backlash of criticism.
Freedman's issue is centred around the publicity that Evans has obtained and the hero status that he now owns. In her eyes a hero should be someone who saves lives and has a positive impact on the community, such as nurses, doctors, fire fighters, etc. Whilst I totally agree with her opinion there, a hero is that and so much more.
Everyone's definition of a hero is different. My definition of a hero is a person that someone can look up to and who has a positive impact on ones life. They do not have to directly save lives, as with doctors and nurses, however they can give someone something to live for and the morals to strive towards. To some people, professional sporting people are a a bunch of overpaid ego-centric individuals, however to others they are the role models that kids look up to. They give them the determination to succeed not just in a sporting context, but in life. Evans victory will inspire children across the country to take a chance, believe in themselves and work towards a goal, thus having a positive impact on their life. Additionally, what his victory has done for Australian cycling is yet to truly been seen. However, if it means that people are more active, more health conscious and more driven to succeed, then I believe that someone such as him should be classed as a hero.
Like so many other individuals, both in a sporting and non-sporting context, Evans victory did not come easy. He opitimizes the Australian spirit. What we viewed over the past three weeks was not an overnight success. Evans put in years and years of hard work and sacrifice. What we as spectators do not see is the countless hours of pain, hurt, disappointment and frustration that he has gone through to achieve his goal. He has showed that through belief, hard work and a strong support network that nothing is impossible.
To many Cadel may have come across as the underdog. Many had written him off from the start. However, that is what makes success such as his all the more special. In a sometimes confusing and negative world, he may have given hope and confidence to people to pursue their dreams and something to live for. As seen in the 2008 AFL Grandfinal, from the outside Hawthorn were given next to no chance of winning the flag, however through perseverance and belief they showed that they could achieve what others thought impossible. In my eyes, that 2008 Hawthorn team are my heroes. Crawf is my hero. He does not save lives and conquer the worlds issues, however he is the type of role model that children can look up to and that I look up to. Not because he is a footy player, but because he has the attitude towards life that I strive for.
The way I see it, if someone positively impacts your life, gives you a reason to live for, gives you someone to look up to and shows you that through determination and hard work that the impossible can be achieved, then that person should be classed as a hero.
No comments:
Post a Comment