Are you an Olympian if you make the Olympic team

My son got admitted to Harvard this fall so my wife has put out on social media that he is a Harvard grad.

Do I really get one free checked bag on Southwest if I'm paying for a ticket?

Is the "Free breakfast" hotels offer really free since you paid for the room for the night?

Can you say you played in the NFL if you only played in one pre-season game?

Geelong runner wrote:

Think I posted this in 2016. I've seen a lot of athletes on social media calling themselves Olympians after making the team. What if you get injured and don't get to run? I don't believe you are an Olympian until you step onto the track to compete in the Oympics.

NO.

I ran an A qualy, placed in the trials. Got picked and dropped when it got to the budget committee. All in the same night.

That's how it worked in Australia at the time.

I never call myself an Olympian. Nor should I.

Dwightarm wrote:

qualifying good enough for me wrote:

So not one American who qualified for the '80 Moscow Games is an Olympian?

I disagree, they earned it even if a politician took it away from them.

But they didn’t compete at the Olympics….. how are they an Olympian?

Because they qualified and a force out of their control would not let them start their event that they earned the right to compete in. How would you feel if it was you bozo?

MeHereYouWhere?! wrote:

Do I really get one free checked bag on Southwest if I'm paying for a ticket?

Is the "Free breakfast" hotels offer really free since you paid for the room for the night?

Can you say you played in the NFL if you only played in one pre-season game?

Doesn't matter. If you make the team, then you are on an NFL team and therefore are an NFL player.

Record this wrote:

My son got admitted to Harvard this fall so my wife has put out on social media that he is a Harvard grad.

To get into Harvard, you or your son or wife knows someone. End of story and nice stealth brag;)

Agreed to a certain point. But when it comes to benefits--eg. V.A. Health--theres a clear hierarchy of qualifications, from In-uni and stationed, up through the stages of "activity" of service-connected conditions and disability: to combat, "Purple Heart,etc up to Medal of Honor." Combat and medals count. Some "veterans" are more equal than others.

Likewise, "Olympians."

1968 Mexico City wrote:

Because they qualified and a force out of their control would not let them start their event that they earned the right to compete in. How would you feel if it was you bozo?

I'd feel upset that I didn't get to qualify.

That doesn't take away from the fact that I wouldn't have competed at the Olympics, thus meaning I am not an Olympian.

They aren't Olympians; they didn't compete at the Games. Not their fault, it's a crappy situation. But doesn't change the facts.

MeHereYouWhere?! wrote:

Can you say you played in the NFL if you only played in one pre-season game?

Yes. You technically played in the NFL.

Report Emily Post wrote:

Track & Field News, 'The Bible of the Sport Since 1948,' has long held that an individual does not become an Olympian until they compete at the Games. That's good enough for me.

An individual I know self-identifies as an Olympian. As a member of a relay squad, that person never competed in rounds or finals and never stood on the podium with teammates. There is no indication of this individual in the official record.

I thought I recently read somewhere that all relay squad members MUST run in at least one round at the Olympics. If I'm wrong I'll happily stand corrected,

qualifying good enough for me wrote:

So not one American who qualified for the '80 Moscow Games is an Olympian?

I disagree, they earned it even if a politician took it away from them.

Incorrect. Let me put it another way. Did Henry Rono ever call himself an Olympian? He was in Montreal for the Olympics. Kenya sent him to Montreal for the Olympics. He competed in Montreal warm-up meets.

Americans seem the only ones hung up on Olympian when they are not.

When East Germany boycotted 1984, did they name an Olympic team?

When NZ boycotted 1980, did they name an Olympic team?

Record this wrote:

My son got admitted to Harvard this fall so my wife has put out on social media that he is a Harvard grad.

What if your son gets hooked on fentanyl and fails to graduate? Should he still be called an academic Olympian?

Dwightarm wrote:

qualifying good enough for me wrote:

So not one American who qualified for the '80 Moscow Games is an Olympian?

I disagree, they earned it even if a politician took it away from them.

But they didn’t compete at the Olympics….. how are they an Olympian?

Because they made the Olympic team.

You're still a graduate of the University, even if you didn't show up for the ceremony and pick up the diploma.

Record this wrote:

All athletes are not Olympians just like not all soldiers are not Veterans.

All members of the US armed forces who were on active duty at any time and were not dishonorably discharged are, in fact, veterans. "Active duty" doesn't mean combat, by the way.

It would be more accurate to say that not all military veterans are soldiers.

TheOhioState wrote:

Dwightarm wrote:

But they didn’t compete at the Olympics….. how are they an Olympian?

Because they made the Olympic team.

You're still a graduate of the University, even if you didn't show up for the ceremony and pick up the diploma.

What about countries that select their teams? Countries that don't bother to select a team when they know they are going to boycott an Olympics. Countries that don't conduct a trials when they know they are going to boycott an Olympics (sarcasm intended).

An Olympian is a competitor in the Olympic games - that is the accurate definition of an Olympian. End-of-discusion (spelling intended).

There's been teams where individual players/athletes don't participate but since they're on the Olympic roster when the games begin and at the venue, readily available to compete if called upon, then that's enough to be an Olympian I think.

Jeeeeeeezus wrote:

Y'all are f'in losers. You care way too much about stuff that does not matter, at all. Reevaluate your priorities.

Agreed. These people are massive loses to get bent out of shape over something that literally does not matter.

They must have been the 5:00 1600 kids in high school who always believed they'll make the Olympics so they are envious of those that actually make it.

sbeefyk2 wrote:

Jeeeeeeezus wrote:

Y'all are f'in losers. You care way too much about stuff that does not matter, at all. Reevaluate your priorities.

Agreed. These people are massive loses to get bent out of shape over something that literally does not matter.

They must have been the 5:00 1600 kids in high school who always believed they'll make the Olympics so they are envious of those that actually make it.

For the people of the world who say something does not matter, well then, care to tell us what does matter?

Everything is subjective. Everything could matter. Nothing could matter. It's all subjective. We can individually choose what to give "meaning."

If being an Olympian isn't important, you are an Olympian and I am an Olympian. Grant Fisher will probably be an Olympian but what if he is busted for doping today? What if he gets injured?