Excellence in Sports

"Drugs, Steroids and Athletes - Excellence in Sports."

123HelpMe.com. 16 Jun 2015
<http://www.123HelpMe.com/view.asp?id=20180>.

 

 

What is excellence? Is it perfection, a goal, a feeling, a gift? To some athletes, it is an everyday challenge that comes easy; to others it might not be so easy. Whether it holds a psychological meaning or it’s just another goal to set, it shows a person’s attitude and dedication towards a sport. To what extremes will people actually go to reach excellence? Some athletes strive so hard that they will try almost anything to reach their peak of excellence, the extremes that some go through to reach that peak may be either a safe or dangerous road to travel.

 

People today go through many different avenues while striving for excellence in sports. The main objective these days seems to achieve excellence in the shortest possible time in order for self-satisfaction or for some kind of proof that one is capable of excelling better then someone else. Sports have a variety of difficulties. Excellence is a goal that is worked for, and no matter how long it takes, it is worth the wait.

 

Most athletes, for example, will try almost anything to get bigger, stronger, or faster, in the shortest amount of time possible. This is a personal goal for excellence to them. If there is some over-the-counter supplement or product that will decrease the amount of time it takes to do these things, then a lot of athletes will go down this road because of their own personal dedication. The problem is, this road has consequences and dangers.

 

One of the most common over the counter supplements used today is ephedrine. Ephedrine is a natural central-nervous system stimulant derived from Chinese herbs. Ephedrine is sold in pill form to display that it is okay to take, as any over the counter medicine or vitamin would be. Ephedrine is marketed as a dietary supplement, appetite suppressant, herbal stimulant and a muscle builder. It is supposed to increase your heart rate while doing normal activities in order to speed up your metabolism. The dangers of this drug are rarely known by the consumer, which puts them at high risk. True, ephedrine may be an easy and simple way to lose weight or boost energy and strength, but this simple drug can cause sudden death. Is it really worth it? Is striving for excellence in this way worth the risks it contains. To some people the risks are worth reaching excellence.

 

 

According to a CNN.com article in sports on Northwestern University football player Rashidi Wheeler, ephedrine was the cause of his death. Wheeler took an ephedrine filled dietary supplement before he suddenly died at a summer conditioning drill. The cause of death was researched and Wheeler suffered a ventricular arrhythmia of his heart at the time of his death. Ephedrine caused this heart attack to occur because it stimulated his heart rate to the point that it became overloaded. Wheeler was said by his teammates to be a very dedicated athlete and would do anything to get better. In other words, would take any risk to achieve the goal of excellence. This seamless act of determination to reach excellence caused death. This avenue is an example of a detrimental avenue.

In conclusion, excellence is a goal most people work for, just in different ways.

 

Sometimes striving for excellence too quickly makes some people forget how risky it can be. Over-the-counter drugs are always a risk because they can damage the body. People do not want to realise that risk because they are so interested in becoming excellent in the fastest time possible, with less hard work and determination involved. There are safe ways of becoming excellent and there are dangerous ways. The extremes athletes will go to sometimes to reach excellence may be an easy and effortless way to go about it, but if the dangers and risks are overlooked then excellence will never be achieved.

 

 

Reflections:

• In your own words, what is the meaning of excellence?

 

 

 

 

 

 

• What is your goal in life? What do you need to do to achieve it?

 

 

 

 

 

• Describe how some supplements such as ephedrine can be harmful?

 

 

 

 

 

• What can possibly happen if one tries to take shortcuts in order to achieve his/her goals?