Is it unsportsmanlike/arrogant to throw your fist in the air after winning?

It is completely acceptable if you don't care what people think of you.

What I mean is its gay as hell. You just look like that guy that takes himself and winning a mile against a bunch of scrubs way too seriously.

Fist pumping or anything like that when you cross the finish line is pretty boring. You know what would be better? A cartwheel or a somersault.

Awarenesss wrote:

Today, I won my 1600m race by a good 30-40 meters. At the end, I threw my fist up (like throwing a baseball or football). Is this acceptable, or is it cocky and unsportsmanlike to others? Just want some opinions.

I instantly lose respect for someone when they do that. I have seen guys do it when they have won the slow heat. I have seen D1 runners do it when winning a race with all D3 schools in it. At least if it is something like the Olympics I may understand a little more.

Many of you don't seem to be bothered by this, but I promise you, there are many others that do. Act like you have been there before and get over yourself.

No, you need to get over yourself. Stop trying to stuck the lifer out of sport.

Bad Wigins wrote:

I'm surprised nobody else has said this yet, but what a dumb thing to be worried about.

Nobody cares if you pump your fist. They won't be offended. They won't even notice. Hell, they probably weren't even watching, if you had a 40 meter lead.

Maybe you should read the thread before posting. That way you won't appear so uninformed.

If you have to ask then that proves you are a PUTZ!

worst poster wrote:

No, you need to get over yourself. Stop trying to stuck the lifer out of sport.

What I tend to get from this thread is you have the tools that raise their arms and pump their fists when they win and they think it is okay and that people in the stands think it is cool. Those are the ones that think it is okay, because they are the tools that think they are so cool when they do it. Believe me, we talk about it up in the stands and laugh at you. You just won a high school duel meet, or a small invite. Get over yourself. At least let it be a state championship or something and at least it doesn't look quite so bad.

I threw up a #1 after winning a slow 5 mile last spring. It was my first win after a three year long break and a year long rebuilding period.

I had an interview with the paper afterwards and came off as a huge dick. Explained that I held a pretty good lead the whole race, never really felt challenged...

My whole family still makes fun of me for that article, I think it's funny, but I wish I could have said something smart.

I guess I was just excited to get my first win, and it had been ages since I'd gotten a win I just couldn't help myself. It felt so good to get a win!

I'm more embarassed about the interview than the picture with me throwing up my #1. Interviews with the paper are so hard, you're winded and its just so hard to compose yourself and think of things to say that wont be embarrassing later.

Some more info, to get things clear. I came back from a 50-75m deficit. Leaders were dying with about 600 to go so I just took it. Relatively easy. After reading this thread, I'm probably not going to do it anymore. Thanks for the input guys! Run on

I know what you mean. I was quoted once replying to a question about what I attributed to winning a 10K. I said something to the effect:"I won because of it was a very weak field. I ran about a minute slower than my PR and won by about 30 seconds. Trust me, if the field was stronger it may have been a different story out there today."I was trying to be humble, but it came off in the paper that I was an arrogant prick.

I think it's fine. However, I hope it was a big race and not some dual meet against a bunch of slow dudes. I think that sort of thing should be reserved for major races or significant PRs.

50 plus wrote:

worst poster wrote:

No, you need to get over yourself. Stop trying to stuck the lifer out of sport.

What I tend to get from this thread is you have the tools that raise their arms and pump their fists when they win and they think it is okay and that people in the stands think it is cool. Those are the ones that think it is okay, because they are the tools that think they are so cool when they do it. Believe me, we talk about it up in the stands and laugh at you. You just won a high school duel meet, or a small invite. Get over yourself. At least let it be a state championship or something and at least it doesn't look quite so bad.

Get over yourself. I've sat in the stands for many of meets and no one talks about the winners if they do a fist pump. Maybe the pretentious pricks you hang out with do, but normal people do not.

Why does it have to be a BIG meet. What if this is the first race a kid has ever won and likely to be the only race he ever wins. To him, it IS a big race.

Like others have said, small celebration is acceptable but you can over do it.

Example; Grabbing your junk and yelling GOBBLE, GOBBLE MOTHER F*CKERS would be unsportsmanlike.

A guy at the college I used to run at will raise his arm and point a finger up to the sky after winning conference meet races. Although I might be slightly annoyed if I was a competitor, it's not unsportsmanlike like because it's a meaningful race. Unsportsmanlike would be doing the above, and then dusting off your shoes. Although I personally have never done so (I've only won 1 race against a weak field in hs) I would have problem with a simple fist pump for a win against a solid local field, especially if it was a pr.

I prefer the arms out slightly to the side. I think this was more common in the 70's with guys like Lasse Viren? Anyway, once or twice I made a slight gesture like that, then went over and shook my competitors hands and congratulated them on a good race. You can acknowledge your win and still not be a dick.

coach d wrote:

Compared to Dikembe Mutombo(see at 0:50)?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stjzC8pG15A

Comments like the above are one reason running is seen as boring, and one reason why Bolt became so popular is that he brought some attitude.

Maybe running needs a Ray Lewis?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've heard rumours about coaches of the other finalists in the 100m in Bejing being extremely unhappy about Bolts celebration, anyone know if thats true?

coach d wrote:

Compared to Dikembe Mutombo(see at 0:50)?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stjzC8pG15A

Hah, that was a technical foul? Ridiculous. Are they really that boring in the NBA aswell...jeez people are easily butthurt in this world.

woman here wrote:

Nope, happily married after a very active dating life in college and beyond :)

Do people really dig the ridiculous dances football players display? You think track would be more popular if there were more bravado? I HATE the beginning of sprint races where you get the Maurice Greens of the world showing off. It would kill me to see this happen to the sport I love.

And it's absolutely a measure of your character. Modest, humble people simply do not fist pump. Fist pumping is inherently a public attention-seeking act.

Also, there's a difference between a brief moment of excitement when your hands raise for an instant and fist-pumping bravado. I'm totally fine with the first; the second indicates arrogance.

Guess there are a lot of fist-pumpers on these boards.

You seem terribly boring.

Sports is entertainment, we want to be entertained. Bolt entertains.

Showing sheer joy of winning a racy by raising your fist, clenching it or whatever you do is perfectly fine. In fact, if you don't show any joy in winning (unless the race doesn't mean jack) theres something strange about you.

To me it sounds like you are talking about tacky-guys-in-the-club-fist-pumping. 1/100 does that on a track, thats not what we are talking about.

Damn, according to you not being able to hide your joy is arrogance, jee what a bore you must be.

[quote]the only right answer wrote:

Get over yourself. I've sat in the stands for many of meets and no one talks about the winners if they do a fist pump. Maybe the pretentious pricks you hang out with do, but normal people do not.

Why does it have to be a BIG meet. What if this is the first race a kid has ever won and likely to be the only race he ever wins. To him, it IS a big race./quote]

So I looked up the word pretentious for you in the dictionary so you could see what it means:

"self-important and affected: acting as though more important or special than is warranted, or appearing to have an unrealistically high self-image"

Sounds like the definition of a kid raising his arms or fist pumping because he won a race. Acting as though more important or special than is warranted. I don't see the kid getting an A on a test doing a fist pump, or the orchestra member who just did an impressive solo performance, or the kid helping a little old lady across the street. Why do athletes and some of their fans think they are so special that they can act pretentious. The kid in last may work harder and have put out more effort in the race, but he is not fist pumping.

It is a race, that is all. Win the race and move on. Same with Tiger Woods and his fist pumping or the idiots that just made a tackle and think they just solved world peace. Sports are awesome and I enjoy watching them, but can't stand the self-importance that people like you place on them.

50 plus wrote:

What I tend to get from this thread is you have the tools that raise their arms and pump their fists when they win and they think it is okay and that people in the stands think it is cool. Those are the ones that think it is okay, because they are the tools that think they are so cool when they do it. Believe me, we talk about it up in the stands and laugh at you. You just won a high school duel meet, or a small invite. Get over yourself. At least let it be a state championship or something and at least it doesn't look quite so bad.

Get out of here. Another bore.

To show joy of winning is perfectly natural, taunting is not. Look at Wiggins post, that contains all there is needed to say about this.