Colour of medal is ultimately irrelevant

Re Gold-medal game of inches goes Canada’s way this time, Jan. 6 The image of Lias Andersson tossing his silver medal into the crowd after Sweden’s loss to Canada has a double side to it.

At first glance, it appears that this may not be one of Andersson’s most shining moments. But it does reflect the true heart of a fierce competitor.

His outpouring of emotion in bitter disappointment and frustration is the genuine example of the gold-or-nothing mantra and his burning desire to attain it.

I admire his tenacity and will to win, but I do not condone the timing of his petulant reaction in front of his teammates. Hockey is a team sport and you win or lose together. As team captain, Andersson has a responsibility to lead his team, not embarrass them. His disrespectful antics reflected poorly on the team and the competition as a whole, and should never have happened when and where it did.

What Andersson does with his medal after the game is no one’s business but his own. He can stuff it into a sock drawer or use it for a paperweight.

I, too, must admit the feelings of anger and utter disappointment when coming home with silver rather than expected gold. It can be a solitary, gut-wrenching ordeal that can stretch your inner psyche to the breaking point.

Fortunately for me, I have long since learned that a silver medal is merely a material token. Ultimately in the journey of one’s life, it matters not where a medal ends up, or even the colour, but in how we view them and weave them into the fabric of our future. Elaine Tanner, triple Olympic medallist, swimming 1968 Mexico, Oakville