The Anton Ego Among the Sport Journalists
Many years ago, I read Karl Vannieuwkerke’s book Renner willen worden. It is a great story of what it takes to become a semi-professional bicycle racer. Procycling is the hardest sport on earth. It takes an immense
With the world championships cycling in Belgium this year, television maker Otto-Jan Ham and former Olympic runner Eloise Ouedraogo put on their spandex to become time trialists. They will race against the clock with the best in the world. It is a futile endeavor to take on professionals who train for this for years.
Nevertheless, it is wonderful television: the sweat, the tears, the meals, the professional guidance.
Then, today I read a column (in Dutch) by a Belgian sports journalist.
Column over De Tijd van Ons Leven in De Morgen van zaterdag 11 sep 2021 https://t.co/3RmdnYCZd7
— Hans Vandeweghe (@hansvdw) September 12, 2021
He makes a few similar remarks how big of a challenge it is. That’s obvious. But it he doesn’t leave at that. There is a lot of critique, even ridicule about the most recent performance statistics of Otto-Jan Ham. Why do columnists default to the negative? It reminded me of Anton Ego, the food critic in Ratatouille.
It really doesn’t matter how they will fare in Knokke. What matters is setting a big, hairy and audacious goal - a BHAG. Then enjoy the journey attempting it. That’s why the show is called “The Time of our Life”, and not “The road to victory”.