"Pompous and egotistical" are also words used to describe people who are pompous and egotistical. He wasn't "misunderstood" in the slightest. Great runner that he was, he was still pompous and egotistical. All the high standards and hard work in the world don't change that.
It's always pleasing when great artists, great athletes, great musicians, are nice friendly people with no rough edges. We hope that Mommy and Daddy will be such people, too. But Mommy and Daddy are just people, and the sooner we realize that, and accept the rough edges, the sooner we'll enter adulthood.
I hear tell that Beethoven was pompous and egotistical, but so what? He was great.
So what if Salazar was a bit of a diva? He was a top-notch competitor; his performances--including this particular performance--continue to inspire. Cut him a break. Most of us have a few rough edges.
signed,
Your Daddy