01 Jun '24

The art of winning and losing

550
door Nathalie Dirix
In the realm of elite sports, victory and defeat are two sides of the same coin.

Kim Gevaert: ‘Sports for me isn’t about being better than everyone else. It’s all about being the best Kim I can be. That’s why I focus on myself. Sometimes I wouldn’t win a competition, but I knew I’d done a great job anyway. Then I could just be happy with myself knowing I gave it my all.’

Ann Wauters: ‘Winning graciously is about showing respect for your opponent. True champions appreciate that their adversaries push them to become the best versions of themselves. Fierce competition may unfold on the field, but after a close match, even if you lose, extending gratitude to your opponent is a hallmark of sportsmanship. Learning to embrace failure is one of the first steps towards achieving success in sports.’