"I have to start today by confessing two biases First, Ilia Malinin isn't just from my home country (USA). Not just my home region (metro area: Washington, DC). He's from my hometown (Vienna, Va.). You could run a 5k road race from my home to his high school. I know people who've taught him. I know people who've skated with him. I could easily bump into him on a fast-food run this summer"
"The risk of such a loss in worse in some sports than in others. When Usain Bolt was at the starting line for a race, he knew that he was simply faster than everyone else there, and nothing could stop him getting gold aside from a catastrophic problem getting out of the starting blocks. Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky were never going to leave the Olympics empty-handed, in part because they had several individual races to attempt."
Ilia Malinin grew up in Vienna, Virginia, within the Washington, D.C., metro area, and has close local connections including former teachers and skating partners. The Olympics can be especially cruel when an athlete who has dominated for years falters on its largest stage, sometimes their only widely seen opportunity. Some sports allow for one or two mistakes, while others offer little margin for error. Icons like Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, and Katie Ledecky had competitive cushions that reduced such risk. Single events, judged outcomes, or inconsistent performances can leave even excellent competitors without deserved recognition.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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