Cadel Evans with teammates
It’s not often you’re publicly abused before breakfast. But that’s what happened after my Today Show appearance when I exclaimed that I didn’t understand the huge deal about Cadel Evans and thought the coverage of sporting victories was disproportionate. My skin is pretty thick but I will admit the abuse came as a bit of a shock.
Not to my husband. When I called him on my way into work, reeling from the complete slagging that was happening on Twitter, he said “What happened on the show?” and I said “Cadel” and he said “Oh no babe, you didn’t do your ‘sportspeople aren’t heroes’ thing, did you?”
Um, yes. I did.
I didn’t wake up on a hobby horse. I noted that Cadel Evans had won the Tour de France and I thought “oh, that’s nice for him” and that was about it.
My first hint that I was out of step with popular opinion came when the Today Show producer called to tell me about the topics for this morning’s What’s Making News segment.
“Karl wants to do the whole thing on Cadel.” What? The whole segment? Really?
Then, I watched from the make-up room as Karl called for everyone on the set, including Lisa, Dickie and Alicia at the desk, to rise for the national anthem to celebrate Cadel’s win.
There was talk of a public holiday.
And that’s when I started to become really baffled.
The rest is a blur, possibly a nightmare and certainly something I wish hadn’t happened because nobody needs to be called 500 different awful names before they’ve eaten their Weetbix.
This is our segment:
This was my general point:
Good on Cadel. I’m sure it was an achievement and great that he won. I’m not taking anything away from his physical sporting achievement. It’s impressive to be the best in the world at something.
But I’ve always had a problem with the way Australian sportspeople are revered as heroes and worshipped above every other profession.
To me, heroes are people who help other people or who somehow work selflessly to benefit others. Nurses, doctors, scientists working to cure diseases, those who work with sick people or disadvantaged people, fire fighters and those who risk their lives in wars or their daily jobs, those who volunteer…..you get the drift.
That’s my definition of hero. I’m not saying it should be yours.
Clearly, I am in the vast, vast minority here (I certainly know that after today having been called a dog, a bitch, unAustralian, a stupid, ignorant fool, told I should lose my job, fuck off and shut the hell up, go back to writing about lipstick……and that is not even the worst of it).
But sportspeople – who spend their lives honing their physical skills with vast support from sponsors and teams of support people – well, I don’t think the word ‘heroes’ applies to them particularly.
I think pursuing a life doing something you’re good at for the benefit of yourself is not heroic. It’s not a BAD thing, I’m not dissing Cadel (of course not!) but the idea that a sports person should be idolised because they can ride far or jump high or swim fast is, to me, a bit odd. I guess I’m just flagging the fact that if you do well in sport, the country and the media stop to worship you in a way that doesn’t happen to anyone else for doing anything else.
The abuse I received was instant and it continues, seemingly unabated. I have a pretty thick skin but by 8:15 I was in tears. I genuinely miscalculated the level of viciousness my comments (which I have made many times before) would provoke. My bad. Not for stating my opinion but perhaps for misreading the mood and the audience.
Many people have made the point that it’s great to have role models for kids to look up to, to encourage them to get on a bike or kick a ball. I agree absolutely. They’re certainly better role models than rappers or reality TV stars.
But I only wish other kinds of heroes would receive the same media and popular adulation, that kids could see that you could be wildly popular for helping others or doing something other than having a physical skill.
My husband explained to me that it brings people together and that this can’t be a bad thing. I guess. Things that make people feel good are important in a world of bad news. For that reason alone I can understand why it’s a good thing. And with the bad news that’s been around this past weekend, some good news is welcome.
But that’s not something I particularly understand either – I don’t feel closer to anyone or more proud to be Australian etc because someone won the most gruelling bike race in the world.
Anyway. I like to think I have a pretty good handle on popular opinion – not that I necessarily fall in line with it but I usually understand how it works. Not today though.
Two more things.
To those who are accusing me of being a killjoy, I would not have written this post of my own volition. I didn’t feel so strongly about it that I would have written it unprompted. It happened to be my Today Show day and I was asked my opinion and gave it.
Also, Cadel and other sports people are inspirational, strong, yep. We can celebrate them and should celebrate them – just like I celebrated when my cousin won an Oscar a few months ago. But I didn’t call him a hero.
If you strongly disagree with me, I would genuinely love to understand how sporting success makes you feel. Please don’t abuse me for not understanding it, I’ve had enough of that today. Still, I always have my mind open and am ready to learn about other opinions, this morning I was just expressing my own.
For a different view, check out Anthony Sharwood’s piece at The Punch here: http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/thank-you-cadel-youve-done-us-all-proud/
UPDATE: It’s 24 hours after I posted this and the reaction continues to astonish me. I had no idea that questioning the worship of a sports star could unleash such extraordinary vitriol. To those who have disagreed with me in a calm, civil way, I want to thank you. I have read much (not all) of the response. The Mamamia team have protected me from some of the most offensive abuse by deleting those posts so if you’re planning to leave that kind of comment below, save your breath because I won’t see it.
What I’ve learned from many of the responses is that ‘hero’ can be a subjective term. It may mean something different to you than it does to me. For many, it means role model, someone to look up to. Fair enough. I’m not telling you what to think or who to look up to.
My point was actually meant to be less about the word ‘hero’ than the disproportionate amount of media coverage and public adulation given to sports heroes as opposed to people who achieve equally amazing things in other non-sporting fields.
Comments on this post are now closed.
1,518 Comments so far
So unless you save a life you aren’t a hero? To complete the Tour De France’ is extraordinary. I really don’t think you understand anything to do with athleticism, sport or training hard for any sort of event. Cycling isn’t just a hobby. It’s his career, his passion and it’s something that requires unbelievable physical and mental toughness. You are extremely ignorant and that’s understandable for someone who has obviously never been close to someone who trains for hours and hours a day, every single day, for decades. Cadels win is not just a ‘sporting achievement’. It is representative of hard work, determination, passion, self-belief and everything else that a true Australian ‘HERO’ should be. His win probably will encourage many Australians, including children to get on a bike, or pursue a team or individual sport, and in the opinion of a weight loss specialist, this WILL save lives. Go and run for 60 minutes straight and then perhaps, just maybe you can come close to commenting on what constitutes an extraordinary athlete like Cadel. He is absolutely an Australian hero. They come in all forms, not just in the form of a surgeon. And with everything going on in the world at the moment, and particularly with our political leaders, it disgusts me that you would approach this moment in Australian history with a negative attitude.
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I totally agree with you “actually interested” and so am I. What is the difference.
I think she needs to explain herself so we can all understand.
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Hi Mia,
I don’t ask this be rude, call you a hypocrite, abusive, rub anything in your face…I don’t agree with this post but I do respect it…But my questions is this: months ago, you called Jessica Watson a hero for something which isn’t entirely selfless and now you are saying Cadel Evans is not….and so I ask, what is the difference? What makes Jessica such a hero and Cadel not?
Mia/Rick, I’m genuinely interested to hear Mia’s thoughts- though I do understand if she chooses not to respond.
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Hi Mia, I watch Today show, and normally I have to say I don’t agree with your opinions
but I agreed with u on this one.. I’m a huge soccer nut but I always argue with friends over the fact that it’s not right that ppl get 200k a week to kick a ball around… I always argue that hey if tomorrow I don’t watch Arsenal play my life won’t change a heck of a lot, however if tomorrow miners stopped working tomorrow and I had no lights etc…
don’t let Karls BS get to u, that’s how u win gold logies, by pandering.. I was uncomfortable watching him lay into u, I can only imagine how u felt.. but don’t worry about him or the bogans banening for ur blood…
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To all those who say Cadel Evans (or any sportsperson) is not a hero – please define hero. Most online dictionaries that I have consulted define hero as a “man admired for his courage/ achievements” or words to that effect. Therefore Cadel may not be a hero to you, but by independent definition he IS a hero. One does not have to save lives to be a hero.
Mia, I enjoy your columns and books but I watched you yesterday on Today with dismay; I understand your point (even though I don’t agree) but to say your timing was abysmal is an understatement.
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I think that you are putting too much emphasis on the word HERO. When he is referred to as a hero, it is OBVIOUSLY in a sporting context. No one is comparing Cadel to someone who has saved lives (except for probably you). He deserves all the praise he is receiving and as Australians we SHOULD and DESERVE be proud of his achievements. It is a tough bike race to ride, let alone race it and win it. After his win, there has been a massive and notable increase in the number or people interested in cycling as a sport and simply getting on a bike, a fantastic achievement for a country who is suffering an obesity epidemic. Also the numerous comment about Cadel living in Switzerland are irrelevant, all full professional road cyclists must move to Europe to train, we simply dont have that terrain here. This has nothing to do with how Australian this incredible athlete is. Before you comment negatively on an athlete and all those that support and follow them, take some time to learn about them, their sport, their history and achievements, this time round you came across as ignorant.
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I cringed all the way through that. I don’t think you realise how you come across. This time it just happened to be about a topic that many people actually have some level of interest in.
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If what Cadel did can get 1% of our population out of the lounge room and on to a bike exercising, then he is a hero to me. These people will be fitter and will have less health problems later in life. Lance Armstrong is also a hero of mine, he gave me hope when I was battling cancer. He won his third TDF as I got out of hospital, and continue to win another 4 TDF. He showed me that you can beat cancer and even become better post cancer, and that it is not a life sentance.
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Couldn’t agree more! Obesity is one of THE biggest problems in Australia. I’m inspired, others are inspired. If more people respected what Cadel has done, the tour and this sport, rather than worrying about what other people are wearing or who they’re dating, perhaps this country would be a better place. On ya bike Mia!
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The problem in Australia is the use of words like hero,legend,icon when referring to people that have achieved something instead of just saying they are inspirational,courageous,motivational. In this uncertain world that we live in today fraught with death,disasters,dishonesty, corruption,greed and economic uncertainty the majority of people are uplifted by positive achievements in whatever form.So when people achieve something they should be congratulated,admired and be an inspiration to us all and that is what Cadel Evans is not a hero.
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Oh please! You’re playing with semantics. If someone wants to use the word ‘hero’ then they are fully entitiled to just as others are entitled to not. Either way, I hardly think the sky is going to fall in!
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Mia you summed it up nicely “. . . but that’s not something I particularly understand either”, thank-you for showing us your lack of knowledge, insight and intelligence as to what Cadel Evans has achieved. As some of the previous comments have suggested, perhaps you should try riding the Tour de France???
What’s that I hear you say, “no”, “I can’t”, is it perhaps you can’t ride the tour because you’re not a professional athlete who has committed their life to excelling in their chosen field and has made sporting history by winning an event that has been held since 1903 in Europe, dominated by European cyclists and never before won by an Australian, oh okay.
Perhaps as an “esteemed & long-standing journalist” you should undertake some research prior to giving your opinion, I’m sure when you undertake your speaking engagements on body image in the media you have done some prior reading on the topic along with discussions with people in the field of body image, what you have demonstrated to me is that you are an educated cretin.
. . . and correct me if I am wrong but did you not use the word hero to describe solo sailor Jessica Watson return to Australia . . . . “Back when she set out on her voyage, crashed on the first night and then set out again, I was a doubter. I still am a little bit. Now that she has returned a hero (as she should, her achievement is astonishing) it’s easy to say it was a wonderful thing for her to have done”. You can add hypocrite to educated cretin.
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We are sycophantic if we happen to agree with an intelligent, outspoken woman but we won’t be if we jump on the “I love sports people” bandwagon – hmmm what’s that old saying about the pot……?
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Completely agree Anton with the comparison to Jessica Watson. Both Cadel and Jessica competed in a sporting event that took courage and determination and persistance. Yet Mia only refers to Jessica as a hero? I cannot see the difference….
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You say: “I didn’t wake up on a hobby horse. I noted that Cadel Evans had won the Tour de France and I thought “oh, that’s nice for him” and that was about it.”
THIS is why people are so angry. You’re reducing a great sporting achievement to “that’s nice”. We get it, you don’t like sport and you don’t understand it. But you denigrated a true sporting champion on live TV with a flippant and arrogant attitude and naive comments (‘He doesn’t even live in Australia”). You came off as cynical and uninformed.
If you’d watched one minute of the coverage or done one second of research (which I would argue you should have done as a paid popular culture commentator), you’d know that his achievement was more than “nice”. You switched the argument to “he’s not a hero” to cover up your lack of preparation.
I used to be a long-time reader of Mamamia but over the past year I have found the sycophantic fans of Mia to be too much. Reading through these pages of comments confirms this and your long-winded backpeddaling post doesn’t help. Saying you cried because of the haters is just laying it on a bit thick. Perhaps the Mia love bubble is making you a little precious?
Instead of flipping the argument to “what is a hero?”, you should just tell the truth: you don’t like sport, you don’t know anything about Cadel Evans or cycling and you quickly reached for an opinion. That would be far more honest than “he’s not a hero, why don’t we recognize firefighters” which seems like a lame argument you pulled at the last minute to hide your lack of preparation.
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well put
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At least now we not who are un-Australian!
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To anyone who hurled abuse at Mia for expressing her opinion, shame on you! Is that the sort of people who also revere sports people? I don’t know but it’s definitely an ‘ugly side’.
I think Karl got it right without even knowing it, he said that it was “a great day for Australian sport”. I think he’s right, the tour de france is an incredibly challenging sporting event and to win is a massive feat. And ofcourse it’s always great to have Australians recognised in a positive light on a worldwide platform. BUT I think outside of the sporting arena it doesn’t weigh up as a world changing event. It’s nice for him, it’s cool for people who like cycling and sport but it’s not going to make the world a better or worse place. Do I think he needs more recognition than he’s already got, like a public holiday? No I don’t .
I also agree that kids think it’s cool, my son was suitably impressed, he came out to rehash to me the story while I made the dinner. He’s a 6 year old boy and Cadel Evans got himself on the telly by riding his bike faster than everybody else, for him it ticks all the right boxes.
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OMG what is wrong with our country???? I totally agree with you Mia, 10000000000%! Sportspeople are leaders in their field, they can be amazing – but they’re not hereos and the amount of adulation is ridiculous – I totally agree that we should be giving that praise and media coverage to those who deserve it based on the contribution they make to the world – but they’re the unsung hereos because it’s not what the common majority want to see. Sure, it’s a cool thing to win the hardest and biggest bike race in the world – but seriously, this level of outrage and hate you’ve attracted on this issue is just so saddening and surprising! Man, we share our country with some dicks, don’t we? I mean, I cried with Cathy Freeman won her race- now THAT is something to be proud of – an indigenous woman, despite all odds, the top of her game – but a priviledged white boy on a fucking expensive bike – hmm, a little less so of the pride. How can Australia value sportspeople so greatly when the REAL issues get ignored?! You have my support, as always, and you hold your head high – you’ve done nothing wrong and the naysayers are just dickheads.
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asdasd
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Hi Mia,
What really upsets me about all this is the fact people get so angry about comments that don’t subscribe to their views. They become totally irrational, and I feel sad about it. I blame the media and our political environment which has really dumbed down – its all about short grabs and hysteria. This irrational reactions just show how stupid our society is becoming. I think Cadel achieved a wonderful feat – but in the context he was well supported and luck was on his side. Which is what sport is all about – work hard, have some luck and also money behind you. Not sure it makes a better society but gives people a reason to feel happy and as one. But I don’t believe this feeling lasts for very long – like adrenaline – you have to come down and then there is the expectations for more. I agree with you they are not hero’s they are great sportspeople and thats it. It’s a feeding frenzy out there!
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I’m with you Mia. Sporting achievements are great and exciting to be part of, even if only as viewers. But they are not the stuff of heroism.
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What Cadel Evans did was a terrific testament to his endurance, courage, skill, and sheer bloody-mindedness. But so is writing a novel. Or composing a symphony. Or reaserching a cure. Or turning up in a war zone to provide humanitarian aid. So, no, he’s not a hero. He’s done something he can rightly be proud of; but heroism is something else altogether.
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OK so I asked my Dad about this. My Dad owns a cycles shop and is a cycling NUT – still rides a couple of hundred k’s a week at the age of 63.
His take on it is that it is an incredible achievement that took huge amounts of courage and effort and Cadel’s win will do great things for the sport of cycling in Australia. But no he’s not a hero.
He did however splutter a bit when I suggested that maybe the news coverage was a bit over the top – I suppose I’ll give him that!!!
I agree that the success of sportspeople can be inspiring to others, but I don’t think that labelling them “heroes” is really justified.
Mia, I hope today is a better day for you!
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You are almost spot on, but I think the interpretion of your comments was the devil.
Australians need to be made clear about the defintion of heroes. I undoubtly think Cadel Evans is a Champion, an Idol, a fantastic Role Model, amazing person. But I don’t think he is a hero. No sportspeople are heroes.
Worshipping, meh each to their own, people worship their cat, people worship Gillard, people worship God, people worship Collingwood FC, so no point bagging about worshipping as it is overrated anyway.
Cadel on the other hand deserves the reception, acclaimation, applause for his achievement as third non-European to win TDF.
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A reminder, to everyone: we have reopened comments but we will not be tolerating abuse in this forum. One of the most surprising things about this debate has been the vitriol shown which is no way to make a cogent argument. Disagree by all means (the 1300+ comments here are a mix of both agreement and not) but if commenters cannot keep the discourse civil their comments will be removed.
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I don’t often agree with you so wholeheartedly Mia, but on this you are completely, utterly correct.
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Mia’s comments with regards to Cadel just grate.
A positive way to make her point would’ve been to highlight the need to acknowledge and recognise all great achievements, not just sporting ones.
Her way of making the point was disrespectful and out of touch with the endeavour & discipline required to succeed at that level. Very poor form indeed.
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Oh Mia. What has changed since you wrote this in 2010 to make you such a cynic? Sad.
“I am genuinely in awe of her achievement. Back when she set out on her voyage, crashed on the first night and then set out again, I was a doubter. I still am a little bit. Now that she has returned a hero (as she should, her achievement is astonishing) it’s easy to say it was a wonderful thing for her to have done.” – When I was 16, I got my ears pierced, suck on that Jessica Watson (May 17, 2010).
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Maybe she just prefers sailing to cycling!
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LOL
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Every time an Australian excels in the international arena I’m really proud of them and of our country. Regardless of whether it is in sport, medical research or any other field. We are a small, remote country and we should celebrate each and every achievement on the world stage. Cadel Evans, for one day, was the “best” at something and that should be recognised and applauded. While I think it was awful that Mia was abused – I do think it was inappropriate of her to diminish Cadel’s achievement and I understand why people were upset by the comments. There is so much negativity in the world at the moment – I believe it is more important than ever to celebrate good news stories.
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Mia – Let me add +1 to the sentiment that it’s not that your proposition is fundamentally wrong, it’s that the weakest possible example you could choose is Cadel Evans, because of his extraordinary personal history, his own commitment to causes bigger than his own sporting success (Tibet, charitable causes, and so on) and because to win the TDF possibly requires more of the human qualities we associate with heroism (determination, self-sacrifice, endurance, teamwork and so on) than any other sporting event.
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I’ll just point out that this example wasn’t of Mia’s choosing. It’s just the nature of the news cycle and her role as a commentator that she was to be asked what she thought about Cadel’s win (not about the man himself!) on the morning of his victory. The question couldn’t and wouldn’t have come on any other day, which is all determined by the producers of the Today Show. I don’t think anyone here on any side of the debate genuinely believes Cadel isn’t a champion and that what he did wasn’t difficult.
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Well, no, the example WAS of Mia’s choosing.
She could have decided that she didn’t know enough about the subject to say anything (now, THAT would be a novel idea!), or she could have educated herself enough to comment knowledgeably.
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She was asked about Cadel and she gave an honest answer. Like it or not, that was her answer. I don’t think the abuse that followed was at all justified. We all have opinions and manage to disagree respectfully.
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I agree that no-one deserves abuse. But she could have said that she didn’t really know anything about Cadel Evans or the Tour de France and that she didn’t understand the fuss and left it at that, and no-one could possibly have objected.
I could give you a whole bunch of “honest” opinions about subjects that you know well and I know nothing about, and you know what your reaction would be: p#%@ed off!
And that’s exactly what happened here.
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I think she was honest enough in saying she didn’t get it and, to be fair, Karl pushed her for more on the subject. It’s not an ideal situation and I certainly see where you are coming from. Thanks for arguing reasonably.
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If you watch the interview, you will hear the she does say she doesn’t know very much about Cadel. She said about all she knows about him is that he lives in Switzerland. I think she made it quite clear that he wasn’t a topic she had a lot of knowledge on. So give her that credit.
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I didn’t even have to read the full posting to be able to comment on this. It’s a sport, big deal! I ride bikes too, actually on the weekend I rode at the very place Cadel made a name for himself when he was 15yo and won a MTB event. So yeh it’s a nice thing, for him, and a proud moment for his family. But it’s not grounds for a national holiday. I’m not a sports fan, obviously, however I can recognise a good effort, then move on. It’s not really a huge moment in Australian history though.
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Mia, I totally get it now. This has probably been said before, but with 1000+ comments, I’m just not going to read all of them.
When I read your article here, I was 100% with you – I agree with you.
But then I watched the Today segment, and I get the vitriol.
Even I was against you when I watched the beginning of that – your article is fair – your seg. was really inflammatory.
It’s just the way you expressed it – and unfortunately your opinion was covered in overlay of Cadel winning, which made it worse.
Ah well, that’s just the way it goes on tv sometimes – I still agree with you.
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I totally agree with you. The problem is that we humans have not really evolved much since the days of gladitorial sports and morbid entertainment designed specifically to keep the masses sidetracked and factional. You must have noticed that people, on the whole, are not deep thinkers but rather creatures of habit. Scratch under the surface and you will probably find a draft player rather than a chess strategist. On the other hand the solidarity being displayed by the Norweigan public at present and the philosophical reasoning that is apparent, does give one hope for the possibilities available to humanity. You hit a nerve with those who have reacted badly to your views, keep up the good work.
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“I am genuinely in awe of her achievement. Back when she set out on her voyage, crashed on the first night and then set out again, I was a doubter. I still am a little bit. Now that she has returned a hero (as she should, her achievement is astonishing) it’s easy to say it was a wonderful thing for her to have done.”
http://www.mamamia.com.au/news/m-when-i-was-16-i-got-my-ears-pierced-suck-on-that-jessica-watson/
Mia what has changed?
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While I agree that there are people in our communities that should receive extra support and recognition for the very important work they do – I think you actually know very little about Cadel’s story – what he came from, and what he has had to do to get where he is today.
You are missing the point that Cadel came from a remote, impoverished background and has managed to chart a course to be the best cyclist in the world. It makes people feel anything is possible, no matter who you are. The message the average Aussie is getting is that if you want something, and pursue it hard enough, it can be done no matter who you know, or what you have. That’s a hopeful and inspiring message, and people will react strongly to someone who steps on it. As they should.
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I agree Mia. Good on him, great achievement etc, etc,etc, but public holidays and hero status……um, no. In Australia we do honour sportspeople over all others. we make them heroes, role models, when at the end of the day they are just cyclists, or footy players. we should celebrate their win, but it should definetley not be the most dominant piece of news. And people who are so horrible to you because you have a different opinion are meat head bullys who make me sick.
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Oh, and I think karl comes across as a bully . he should be able to listen to other peoples point of view in his job, but he obviously only cares about making people agreeing with him. Can’t believe he won gold, he is condescending and rude, and Mia is supposed to be his friend!! Geez, hate to be his enemy.
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Mia
I run a website called sportstar.com. It focuses on Australian female athletes with a view to getting them a better profile.One of Australia’s elite female athletes, Dr Bridie O’Donnell (cycling) has published this letter on our site. You may like to read it for a different opinion from an Australian female elite cyclist.
http://www.sportstar.com/an-open-letter-to-mia-freedman
Regards
Megan
CEO/Publisher
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Pingback: An Open Letter to Mia Freedman | Sportstar.com
Go Mia, I’m so totally 1000% behind your sentiments. I’ve worked with dedicated health care workers most of my working life and seen and been with heroes working around me so it became normal to me. Then through an accident had to take a desk job – public service – and could not believe how people could spend their day being petty and borderline rude as though that’s NORMAL. And their insistence of “this is URGENT” tested my acting abiltites to keep a straight face and not roar with laughter. Urgent is an otherwise fit-young-and healthy person in anaphalactic shock with no heartbeat. I miss my health colleagues like crazy, beacuse they know what really is urgent and work each day like ‘normal heroes’; call it a good day when they’d done their best, which they did – ceaselessly.
Inspiration comes from many places, not just sports events – I’m daily impressed that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west – such organisation and reliabilty!!
Cadel won today and someone else will win another sporting event tomorrow. Ho hum, duck’s bum.
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Is Cadel Evans an Australian hero?
No. But possibly yes.
First, no. Cadel is not a hero for winning a bike race. Yes, winning a bike race is impressive. It makes him a hero to some. It makes him a hero to me, an avid cyclist. Cadel has an inspiration to me since I first watched a stage of the Tour de France, in July 2008. It was the final time trial, where Cadel was overhauled by Carlos Sastre. I’d just bought a road bike, and was also just about to go through counselling for alcohol addiction.
Cadel’s ride that day in part inspired me to get out and ride that bike, and that bike was essential for me during the the early stages of recovery. It allowed me to escape; it allowed me to find myself in a way I’d avoided in years; it made me feel good about myself. It still does: at those times when it all gets too much and I move back towards being reliant on the bottle, the bike centres me. So, seeing Cadel achieve what he wasn’t able to do in 2008 means a huge amount to me. He’s a hero to me, because he helped me save myself, and I’m sure he’s a hero to others, for their own personal reasons.
But is he an Australian hero? Maybe. When I saw the blanket coverage this morning, I was amazed. Not because I was unmoved by his achievement: no, it was more the volte-face of the mainstream press in its praise for his achievement. You’ve probably noticed that cycling and cyclists tend to get a bum rap from the papers (in more than one English-speaking country). In the sports pages, it’s usually relegated to a column, or a news in brief, or nothing at all. In the comment pages, it’s very different. Cyclists are regarded at best a strange nuisance and at worst a dangerous menace: taking up roads that rightfully should be owned by cars, holding up essential journeys, being ‘lycra louts’ and terrifying pedestrians. ‘Bloody cyclists’ is a refrain heard too often.
That negative coverage of cyclists penetrates into the public consciousness. It makes people hate us. It makes cycling more dangerous. The Amy Gillett Foundation reports that, an average of 37 cyclists are killed and over 9,000 are seriously injured every year, with thousands more incidents going unreported. Cyclists being seen as a pest, as an intruder on the road, contributes to this, as people pass to close, get impatient, don’t notice cyclists, or even worse intentionally hurt us. Seeing Cadel on the front and back pages, being lauded for riding a bike (admittedly much faster than you or I), can only help to legitimise cycling, and hopefully increase respect for cycling on our roads.
While I might question the press motivation for plastering Cadel over the front and back pages purely for his sporting achievements, if that exposure means that an Australian driver sees a cyclist on the road and thinks ‘Good on yer’ rather than ‘bloody cyclist’, and if even one cyclists’ life is saved because of that change in perception, then in my eyes Cadel Evans damn well is an Australian hero.
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I am sorry, but cadel is a hero, not only for his cycling, but for the work he is doing in Tibet to SAVE lives and preserve a culture. Perhaps you need to actually do some research on the guy and you might change your mind. If you still feel that the work he does behind the scenes is not legendary or heroic, then I will go he! He is a legend and a hero on and off the bike… So read his book, find out all that he has done for tibet and then tell us all how you feel about him! Maybe then you will have cadel day with the rest of us and realise that he is using his success to better others, now tell me that’s not Australian!
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I don’t believe she ever said he was un australian Charlie….read before comment maybe.
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Well, she did say she was doing some unaustralian things in the dressing room…
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I think the problem is in how you are choosing to define the term Hero. To take the dictionary.com definition it’s
HERO
–noun, plural -roes; for 5 also -ros.
1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
2. a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal: He was a local hero when he saved the drowning child.
3. the principal male character in a story, play, film, etc.
Personally I think Cadel showed courage and ability and I think what he achieved showed bravery too. I know that he us regarded as a model by my 5 year old and I think he’s a wise choice for my son to look up to.
The beauty of a hero is that it’s personal. Each of us has our own choice as to who we choose to make our heroes – the people that we each believe have heroic qualities and that we perceive as ideal. To some it may be a sports person, to others a local celebrity, to others a doctor or fireman etc, to others it may even be their mum or dad. No choice is wrong. Any of us can be a hero if someone looks up to us for our courage or ability. Whether it would be your choice is another matter entirely
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Mia, I think it’s awful that people are calling you names. You’re definitely entitled to your opinion.
That said, I completely disagree with the way you stated your opinion. If you were on the show talking about something you were excited about and Karl flat out told you he just didn’t care and good on you but whatever, I think you might have got your back up to.
I personally agree with you about sportspeople but I definitely think you had attitude and it was poorly timed.
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I feel very disappointed at how you have been vilified. I get your lack of understanding about the hero status afforded to sports people in Australia. It’s like a “lowest common denominator” mentality. When will we rise above this & start supporting artists, scientists, volunteers etc? Stay strong! You Rock!
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I completely agree with you Mia I was going to post something about it on Facebook but knew I would be shot down by all those crazy about their sport! In fact I would go so far as to say that professional sports people are less heroic than the average person, as in order to be elite athletes they generally need to be very selfish and other areas (such as family) suffer. Good luck to him but let’s face it-he just rides a bike
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Dear Emily, Thankyou for acknowledging that the average person is more heroic than professional sports people, and in this context that can be taken to mean the recent achievements of Cadel Evans. I was expelled from High School in Year 9 and ever since I have been on the Dole and use the money to go surfing, buy longnecks and spraypaint my art on council facilities. I am sick and tired of people telling me I am a bludger and a no-good miscreant, I am glad people are starting to finally recognise that my achievements are a lot more heroic than Cadel Evans, he who rose from outback Australia to become the greatest cyclist in the world whilst supporting nobel causes like the Tibetan people in his spare time. Thankyou once again Emily, I am going to enjoy my 7 longnecks tonight safe in the knowledge that I am more heroic than Cadel Evans.
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Mia, so you think Cadel just jumped on a bike and was sudenly earning millions in endorsements. What about the decade he spent struggling around Europe following his dream. He is my hero because he spends all day every day slogging it out on a bike (thousands of km’s) to fulfill his life-long dream and passion – no cameras, no well-wishers just him and his incredible athletisism. Don’t begrudge his success and his need to reside overseas to follow his dream. Don’t begrudge him his earnings (based on his successes). We all wish nurses and scientists were earning millions but don’t disresepct them either by your comments as they are also fulfilling their life long dreams and it doesn’t need to financial rewards that determines their success..
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Wow, Mia I think Karl really set you up here. As others have said, he must have known what your views were on the subject then to build it up into a big deal in his intro by saying you were “all fired up” was pretty mean in my opinion. On top of this he was sure to mention that people could email you personally here, he must have known you’d get some pretty horrible emails, not much of a friend!!
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Oh Mia, usually I agree with you, but this time, I gotta say, get the pole outta your ass and join the party!!
The Tour de France is the most difficult sporting challenge in the world, and for an Australian to have won this incredible event, is unbelievable. For you to say he’s just riding a bike, find out a little about cycling and the Tour and then then tell me its just riding a bike. Read Lance Armstrong or Cadel Evans biographies and then tell me its just riding a bike.
Not everything has to be about saving the world. Somethings are just about a normal human being doing extraordinary things and making the rest of us stand in awe. Nothing wrong with that…
If nothing else, just say well done and go about your day instead of knocking the guy…
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Well said!
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+1000
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I’m wondering what your views on the Olympic games are? There you have a whole bunch of athletes who sacrifice everything with no pay to achieve the ultimate. You would not see them as heroes?
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Oh Mia you were very flippant and you look bored. I think that is what offended people. I’m wondering whether if it was a woman and you being a feminist, that you would have responded differently?
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I think an important factor on the side of seeing sportspeople as heroes, and ESPECIALLY Cadel, is the adversity that he has faced. The media scrutiny and attacks that he has suffered throughout his long career have been severe and this level of public pressure seperates his achievement from those of other great contributors (eg doctors, scientists). Their contributions are only possible through hard work and considerable dedication of time, but Cadel suffered these things and additionaly another type of adversity. While it probably will not change views, maybe an understanding of the impact of this pressure will help to clarify a tangible factor in this debate. Clearly you yourself have been on the receiving end of this pressure today (which was in no way acceptable). – A quick thought
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Mia. I respect all opinions. Whether they be similar to mine or completely different. I am also one of the many thousands of Aussies that stayed up every night to watch the TDF. I have followed Cadel since he was riding Mountain bikes and have read his biography a couple of times.
I am a fan of him and respect everything he has done and believe he deserves every bit of accolade and more that he has and will receive.
What you may not know about Cadel is the charities that he supports and that he openly supports the freeing of Tibet and animal rights and indigenous education charities. All with the money he gets from Sponsors, and prize money from races.
What you may also not know is the hardships Cadel has gone through to achieve what he has. Last year he finished the race with a fractured arm. The year before that while in a winning position crashed and fought valiantly for second place with little to no support from his team.
So like I say I value all peoples opinions. How about you do some research on the person you are saying isn’t worth the tag of being an Aussie hero. Because if ever there was a person worth the tag it is this man.
So there it is.
My opinion.
So please in future if you want to reduce the achievements or so called hero status of some one. Pleae at least take the time t find a bit out about them before doing so.
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Mia, I think you are fabulous, don’t go changing!!
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Probably showing my age – but I joined keith Dunstan in his Anti Football League. So I agree with Mia
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I’m with you Mia, I do not get to whole hero worship of sports people at all. I mean, it’s not like the dude cured cancer. It’s great that he rides a bike amazingly, just like its great some peopel hit a ball and catch a ball well, etc. I don’t think they are ‘heroes’ and I don’t think they should be elevated to a higher level or expected to behave in a different way to the rest of the population (why they’re not allowed to go out and get drunk like the rest of Australia, I’m not sure). Anyhoo, it’s great an Aussie won, I just don’t understand the hysteria either.
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