Caroline Wozniacki is guilty of being born into an athletic family. Her mother played on a women's national volleyball team. Her father (and coach) played football professionally overseas. Her older brother Patrik is a professional football player. Although she is the only Danish woman currently in the Top 300 on the Women's Tennis Association, she still finds time to enjoy handball, soccer, and swimming. Did I mention her Polish born parents speak to her in their native language? Keep all these things in mind as I maneuver to a match last Wednesday at the Luxembourg Open with the hometown's very own Anne Kremer. The lead had been held by Wozniacki. However, she had been suffering from a hamstring injury and would not have been able to play the next opponent if she advanced. Her father, speaking in his native tongue, suggested she retire from the competition. Sounds like a sportsmanlike gesture? Not so fast...the comments were picked up over the microphones and suspicions rose.
Long story short, no wrongdoing was found. Just an athlete doing what she would have wanted done for her. Do you think the investigation was justified? Or, do you think there might have been a little paranoia based on the language differences?
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Hmmm, this seems like an interesting topic. I think if you have a native tongue that you should be able to use it. If you have that advantage I would certainly use it. Also, if they picked it up from the sidelines, is that being too paranoid? Shouldnt the athletes just believe that they are better than their opponent and just try to beat them. Competition is competition and you should just try to beat your opponent not worry about what they are wispering to their coach.
ReplyDeleteI think that using a native language during matches shouldn't be allowed because it might causes controsvery. Tennis has been recently under the microscope for potentially throwing matches in order for people to win a large amount of money. Instances like this make things even more complicated, hense why their shouldn't be that type of interaction during sporting events.
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