I was a little puzzled when I saw this pop up on my Twitter timeline in the early hours of yesterday morning.
@Alicia_Coutts: I apologize if I upset Australia for showing I am human. My emotions got the better of me on Sunday night. I felt I had let my team down!!!!
The previous day I had seen how Alicia Coutts had reacted to narrowly missing a gold medal with the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team at the world championships in Barcelona.
Having been swum over in the final lap of the relay by her American counterpart, losing the race by just 0.12s, she was distraught, feeling she had not only let down her three teammates who had put her in a winning position, but also the nation she so proudly represents.
She said in a post-race interview: “I can honestly say for the first time in my career I feel like I’ve let them down.”
Swimming is an individual sport, except when they swim relays. That is when they feel part of a team, and every swimmer cherishes being part of a relay on a national team, and nobody then wants to feel like they have cost the team a win. Coutts felt that way.
So what was she apologising for? Being human?
After some investigation, I discovered why Coutts had apologised.
Coutts had copped it – both barrels. Readers comments on the stories about the relay team were littered with attacks on the 25-year-old, who just 12 months earlier was our quietly-spoken Olympic Golden Girl having joined Shane Gould and Ian Thorpe as the only Australian Olympians to have won five medals at the one Games.
“More tears, temper tantrums and displays of bad sportsmanship.”
“So over these prima donna swimmers.”
“Spoiled brats.”
“Cut their funding.”
“If I can’t win I’ll sulk.”
“You lost because you weren’t fast enough. Get over it.”
“Here we go again – another taxpayer funded athlete fails again in her bid for Gold. What is wrong with a Silver?”
Are some of these people serious? Do they have any idea? What have we become? I am happy for people to have an opinion, to make a comment, that’s what the new age of media is all about, but seriously, perhaps comment on things you have some idea about.
Admittedly Australian swimming became a little on the nose after the London Olympics. There was criticism of Emily Seebohm in tears literally moments after winning silver in her individual event, of James Magnussen arrogant confidence coming unstuck when he missed gold, and then after the chlorine had settled, came revelations of the men’s relay team’s Stilnox initiation and prank scandal in the pre-Games camp in Manchester.
Some of that criticism may have been justified, some perhaps not. But this time, it’s way, way off the mark.
Coutts is nothing like any of those ridiculous references. She’s a tough competitor who swims to win. That is after all what elite sport is all about – isn’t it? She’s not a bad sport. She is proud of her achievements. She oozes patriotism and is not swimming just for herself, but proudly for every Australian.
In London, Coutts won gold in that same relay, the 4x100m freestyle, a bronze in the 100m butterfly and three silvers, in the 200m individual medley, and the 4x200m and 4x100m medley relays. She was proud and happy with all her results.
I just don’t get it. It wasn’t that long ago people were complaining because athletes – swimmers included – were like robots, trotting out cliches and never showing any emotion. Now, they show emotion, they wear their hearts on the swim caps, and what do some people do, bag them for it.
Here’s a bit of context. Most swimmers train six or seven days a week, usually twice in the water, and now also daily in the gym. They have a few weeks off after the big event of the year, and then it’s back into training. NO swimmer in Australia earns big bucks. NONE.
An Olympic gold medal may mean instant, temporary, celebrity, but it doesn’t mean a financial windfall. The sport really is done for the love it. Sure they get funding, but you won’t find too many swimmers driving a Porsche.
Each year there is one big event. They have selection trials for that event, other minor meets, but all the focus is on that one major event each year – the Olympics, the world championships, or the Commonwealth Games.
They all spend each 12 months aiming at one specific event. For some that means one race, it could be just 21 seconds worth. A year’s work comes down to that, and if it doesn’t work out, well you’ve got another 12 months to have another shot at that level.
Whether it is a 21 second 50m freestyle, or like Coutts, a handful of events, this is it. For swimmers each year, this is their grand final.
Look for us, silver is great. Second best in the world. Not gold, but hey, the next best thing, and second best is something to be proud of.
We watch football grand finals each year, and regardless of the code – AFL, league, football or union – without fail at the end of the match, the television cameras will pan past the scenes of jubilation, to find the disconsolate players on the ground, grown men with tears streaming down their faces, or staring away into space in a state of shock, or their heads nestled in the shoulder of a teammate or coach.
How come we don’t condemn them as prima donnas, or spoiled brats? Sure they didn’t win, but they finished second. It’s the next best thing to winning apparently. Shouldn’t they be proud to have just reached the grand final? And there’s another chance next year. What, they can’t win so they sulk?
That feeling for footballers, is exactly what it is like for those swimmers. Each year the swimmers have one grand final. Some are a realistic chance to win, and to come so close and miss out, hurts. You are going to get emotion, and good on them. I want to see that. It is human as Coutts said. If I wanted robot reactions, I’d play Xbox.
We are taught winning isn’t everything. It’s not, as they say, the only thing, but for those in elite sport, like Coutts, it’s why they go to work each day.
Simoc
Guest
All comments on Twitter are about the person that wrote it as are comments on here. The comments are irrelevant to the target and should always be treated with total contempt by the target. We write gibberish to meet a perceived need.
Peter
Guest
Steve.....that chip -work on it..
Mike of Melbourne
Guest
The Bush & Chris I just needed clarify a couple of your points. Chris your authority is very wrong. Wo we need to hear from are the sports manager and agents, they could share just how little all Olymoic athletes, swimmers included, are getting. Case in point Sally Pearson ( who by way of argument lost a race a couple weeks ago and did NO media) or Anna Meares, legend who haven't transferred it into $$$$. Swimmers do do better than the majority of other Olymoic sports, they will cop that but I think a lot of it has been an unnecessary witch hunt. Compare it to other incidents at face value, not a media beat up. They didn't get sent home for damaging property like the rower Josh Booth who faced potential legal action. Now getting back to the argument - The Bush, unless you are at th AIS which nowadays isn't many of the elite % wise all athletes, across all Olympic sports, are out of pocket for medical & recovery. If they are a part of the state institute & academies they would get some allowance for these services but otherwise they have to pay, so need private health. Also Chris & Bush where do you get that swimmers are earning so much money that eu can invest, imam curious. Considering the sport just lost their major sponsor I would love to know, and I am sure others, where you get this from? This isn't an attack but swimmers more than other Olympic athletes seem to be fighting against misconceptions that are along way from the truth. My final point before I get down from my soap box is the argument comparing Olympic athletes/ swimmers to professional athletes like our footballers, there's no point, it's like apples and oranges.
Doll Ashenden
Guest
Hooray Alicia. You've done us proud! Sure it'll be great if you won Gold for yourself and our country but as my 11 years old daughter said "Alicia no doubt gave it her best at that moment. She could've given up but she fought till the end". We are very proud of you Alicia. You've worked so hard to get where you are so don't let those unthoughtful people hurt you and bring you down. I agreed with Micheal 120%. Swimmers work so hard and yet they never earned enough. They do it for the love if the sport and proud to represent their country. We should all appreciate what they do, not criticize them. Thank you.
Ex swimmer
Guest
No problems Bush :) It does need to be noted that the minority and that means 1-3 swimmers from the entire team might make some extra dollars from the corporate world. But the vast majority receive very little income at all. As for free physio etc....whilst away on teams, yep that is covered and for some they would receive "funding" to offset these costs when at home. Swimmers don't swim for the money. It's not a sport that you can make a living from. They do it because they love it and enjoy representing their country (if they are lucky/good enough to do so)
The Bush
Roar Guru
Exswimmer, Easy Tiger I am not saying I mind paying it - I am just pointing out that a swimming is not forking out for their own physio etc...
Exswimmer
Guest
Our tax dollars......how many times has that line been bleated out! Roughly $1 of our tax dollars goes towards the grants swimming Australia receives. That money then is used not just for the top swimmers. It funds the entire sport from grass roots up. Yes there is corporate money on top of that But "our tax dollars" do need to be stretched a long way. Oh and that's $1 a year of our tax dollars. If my math is out slightly it could be $2 depends just how many of "us" actually pay tax!
Ebstarr
Guest
Thank you Michael! We written and well said. Having had swam for most of my 34 years I don't need anyone to tell me the commitment. I no l
The Bush
Roar Guru
"plus how much can you save when you have physio/dieting/coach/ … to take into account" Our tax dollars fund their physio, coach, dietician etc. No Olympic level swimmer in Australia would have to fork out for expenses related to their swimming. Would they also be on big bucks as well? Most not, but some would. As to the argument about their career not lasting long, I don't really buy into that. They, unlike the rest of society, get to earn all their money at the start - invest that wisely and they are set up for life. In the real world for most of us, we have to build our earnings up. If you're making $100,000.00+ for five (5) years in your early 20s you should be able to put yourself into a lovely financial position (remember it's not like they're able to spend it - they're training all day long according to the authority). This is all prefaced on them not blowing it on coke and strippers after they retire.... :)
The Bush
Roar Guru
The Author said NONE, not even one. I admit that most don't, but let's not kid ourselves, the superstars make a bundle out of sponsorships and I don't mean $50,000.00.
jay_hach
Guest
In high performance sport we don't get funded to come second, we get funded to win. Plain and simple. I think the fact that she was disappointed just goes to show ho much our athletes are responding to the recent shift in approach from the ASC and the AIS, all under the tag line of "from world class to worlds best". If Alicia had have had no reaction Australia would have accused the swimmers of being complacent. She showed that she is passionate. A quality that any athlete who wishes to be successful should be. Otherwise they are wasting their time and ours. If she hadn't have showed emotion and had a little cry, that is when the general public should criticize. All Alicia showed was how much it means to her to represent her country and WIN for her country. Not come second. She showed that she values being the best so highly that emotion took over. This is what Australia needs to be seeing in our athletes. the absolute desire to win for their country. Passion that draws you to tears if you don't. And the complete dedication to be the best in the world. Perhaps if more Australian athletes displayed that kind of passion then perhaps high performance sport would not be in the same state that it is currently in.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
rojo
Guest
Chris - please tell us who your good authority is and how much you were told they make? then we can truly debate the issue.
Rabbits
Guest
Great article Michael.
Rabbits
Guest
Better check that chip on your shoulder Steve. It's grown into a forest.
Steve
Guest
Are you the same guy from the 'leave Britney alone' video? Looks like it. Anyway, don't get me wrong- I've never sniped at any athlete on twitter, and I don't agree with people laying into Coultts. All I'm saying is that 'I'm sorry for being human' is the kind of thing someone's mother would say while folding t-shirts and sighing loudly.
Steve
Guest
Well now, you obviously *do* understand. All I was saying was that her 'apology' was not an apology at all, and I was comparing it to some of the all time great passive aggressive moments. The (sort of) serious point, is that while I don't agree with Coutts getting trolled on the internet, it's a definite risk if you're going to go seeking attention on social media. The whole thing reminds me of when a kid puts a picture of her new haircut of Facebook with the caption 'oh God, I look sooooooooooooo ugly', and hopes everyone will dutifully line up to say how great it looks
swimmer
Guest
This article is very well written. These swimmers train for so long and to lose a race by that much is devastating to them. By interviewing them when they have just come out of the pool and emotions are running high means that sometimes their reactions are emotional. It doesn't make them a bad sport, it simply means that they are humans and after all that training are coming to terms with their results. We as Australians need to be sympathetic and understand that this is upsetting to them and rather than tear them down via social media, support our athletes and their amazing abilities (which they train incredibly hard for).
swimfan1
Guest
In her tweet she says I apologoze if I upset australia for showing that I am human. How is that passive agressive. She should have just told all the haters to go jump. She apologized to her country for letting them down because people like you have the nerve to make comments that are uncalled for. You do realize she has contribited to most of our international medals over the past 4 years and to say she has let her country down. FAR FROM IT!!!! She brought home half the swim teams tally last year. So just LEAVE HER ALONE!!!!
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru