Written by It’s a fine line between confidence and egotism, a lack of self-confidence can be terribly disabling in terms of reaching one’s potential in all aspects of life and certainly in sport. But at what point do cumulative successes and accolades begin to create monsters; divas whose demands threaten the stability and cohesiveness of the team. When these ‘shining stars’ begin to think themselves above the team, and worse, when the coaches and team owners allow them to think that way, any fairness and inclusivity that existed within the team will gradually diminish.
Last December Jeremy Piasecki wrote about US basketballer James Hardon and his diva behaviour and the enabling behaviour of management. If we go back to the London Olympics in 2012, we can witness the culmination of unchecked behaviour and ‘diva’ attitudes in the Australian men’s swimming team. Australia loves its athletes, but the swimmers were considered ‘darlings’ as their successes had been significant. The dream all began to fall apart when Eamon Sullivan, Matt Targett, James Magnussen, James Roberts, Tommaso D’Orsogna and Cameron McEvoy, from the men’s freestyle relay team, on the eve of their big event, embarked on a team bonding adventure which began with the taking of stilnox, a prescription sedative which has hallucinatory effects and is on the Australian Olympic Committee’s (AOC) banned list. This led to a wild night of pranks and childish behaviour including harassing female teammates in their rooms.
An independent review of the situation was undertaken after the Olympics and concluded that “…the behaviour of the sprinters contributed to an environment that some swimmers described as toxic.” Two of the female athletes advised Australian news media that when they reported the incident to the national team coach, Leigh Nugent, he “…turned a blind eye”.
Not only were fellow teammates harassed and intimidated, but the evening’s frivolities also impacted the men’s performance significantly, causing them to produce a lack-lustre effort and only come fourth in the relay that they were favourites to win gold in.
Sadly, even given this embarrassment and controversy the AOC determined that the fine and three-year ban imposed by Swimming Australia was sufficient punishment and issued no further sanction.
Confidence is not a lack of fear nor is it being the absolute best at everything. It is being aware of skill deficits and being prepared to work on them, facing doubt and standing up to have a go. Ego contributes to the denial of short-comings and therefore prevents self-improvement. It lurks behind a veneer of loud and boastful behaviour.
Australian Swimmers’ 2012 Olympic Regimen: Sedatives and Pranks – The New York Times (nytimes.com)