The pictures of Joe Biden tripping and falling made for sad viewing as speculation mounted about his capacity to run for a second presidential term. He finally decided - or was persuaded - that, at 81, he no longer had the physical vigour or mental agility to compete for the highest office.
At the same time there was news that Andy Murray has decided that these Games will be his last hurrah. Murray will only compete in the doubles – he has decided that the singles would place too much of a strain on his already battered body. He is determined to play through the pain, with his body held together by various bits of surgical steel. The Olympic Games are one of his favourite events, he says, and would be a fitting way to bring down the curtain on his career.
The decision by Australian hockey player, Matt Dawson, is still more extraordinary. Two weeks ago he suffered a serious fracture on one of his fingers, which would exclude him from these Games, probably his last. It would take months of recovery and a return to full function was not assured. So he had the finger removed from the knuckle up and he is back in training, ready to represent his country.
Beverly Priestman, head coach of the Canada women’s football team, has been sent home after she or one of her staff had sent up a drone to spy on the training session of one of their opponents. She felt the pressure from the high expectations that Canada would retain their status as Olympic champions. Many competitors will come hoping for, or even expecting, to win a medal – most will be disappointed.
The expectations placed upon us by others, and perhaps more by ourselves, may exert great pressure. One of the important arts in life is to be clear about what we might reasonably expect of ourselves. Set expectations too high and they can exert destructive pressure on us. Set them too low and we fail to achieve what we might.
How to decide?
There’s no easy answer. But it involves a measure of discernment.
Pictures of Murray in Paris this week showed him relaxing and obviously relishing the atmosphere in the Team GB camp. So perhaps here is part of the answer. Part of having realistic expectations is that in the process of trying fulfil them, we do, at least for part of the time, enjoy ourselves. No gain without pain but in between there will be some enjoyment and satisfaction that, in the midst of discomfort there is the knowledge that we are aiming at a worthwhile end.
Murray is clear that he wants just one last time to soak up the camaraderie which comes from being part of a team and not a solitary competitor. Let’s face it, Centre Court at Wimbledon must be a pretty lonely place sometimes. Dawson is paying a high price for experiencing the same buzz. Biden has decided ultimately that he was expecting too much of his frail frame. The buzz of being one of the most powerful people in the world – just imagine! - was beyond the reasonable expectations of an 81-year-old.
One of the gifts which we might most crave is to come to an understanding of what we can reasonably expect of ourselves, and indeed of others, not least as the ageing process takes its toll. That way lies contentment.
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