"Viewed through one end of the lens, the two new autobiographies from the sporting legends Boris Becker and Bradley Wiggins might seem like classic tales of the downfalls of two deeply flawed heroes who then claw their way back to redemption. But viewed through the other end of the lens, we see troubling portrayals of an extremely inhumane and, at times, unsafe world of sport where talent is no saving grace, in fact it's more of a liability."
"Both went bankrupt. Both made bad choices and admit their agency in their own demise. Both hit rock bottom and found themselves stripped bare of all dignity, be it in a prison cell or snorting cocaine in a toilet. Becker was convicted by a British court on four counts out of 24 and ended up in prison, surrounded by drug addicts."
Two sporting legends' autobiographies present parallel downfalls marked by abuse, addiction, financial collapse, and incarceration. Both athletes went bankrupt, admitted poor choices, and reached rock bottom, experiencing loss of dignity through prison or cocaine use. Boris Becker was convicted on four counts and served time amid drug addicts. Bradley Wiggins reports sexual abuse by his youth cycling coach and later cocaine addiction that nearly led to imprisonment. Both athletes were failed by adults in authority and felt constrained by controlling environments during early success. The narratives underscore ongoing risks to child safety in sport and systemic failures to protect vulnerable athletes.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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