By Cheryl Mattox Berry
If Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney had a do-over, I’m sure she wouldn’t be frowning during the medal ceremony. Maroney, who won a silver medal in the individual women’s vault competition, stood on the podium with arms folded and mouth twisted into a pout.
Maroney, 16, claims she was disgusted by her performance, not a sore loser. It doesn’t matter. Viewers saw her scowling and took it to mean that she was envious of the winner. Not a pretty picture for the Olympic history books. Her selfish act ruined the moment for gold medal winner Sandra Raluca Izbasa of Romania.
Being a good sport means putting on a happy face no matter how you feel inside. The fact that the whole world was watching should have been another reason for Maroney to turn that frown upside down.
Maroney, who won a gold medal earlier as part of Team USA, embarrassed herself, coaches and teammates. Her frown has become a joke on the Internet, where her image has been juxtaposed in other photos under the Tumblr heading “McKayla is Not Impressed.”
Regardless of how Maroney felt, she acted like a spoiled child. Sometimes athletes perform at the top of their game; sometimes they don’t. Maroney knows that. She should have sucked it up and smiled for the cameras.
Whether you represent your country or school, you are expected to behave a certain way on a public stage. Learning how to handle disappointment is part of growing up. You pick yourself up, dust off and try again. Smile intact.
Everyone understands that emotions – fueled by adrenaline – run high during competition. How you handle the outcome tells what kind of person you are. If you’re not a good sport, no one will want you competing with them on the debate team, dance team, volleyball team or any team, regardless of your skills.
Don’t let the inability to control your emotions keep you on the sidelines. Talk it over with your coach or counselor. S/he will admire you for seeking help instead of blaming your behavior on a character flaw and doing nothing.