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

A). It is unsportsmanlike and you should have been DQ'd.

B). You're a pussy for only running 1600 instead of the full mile.

If you're not winning a global championship race or setting a world record, the answer is yes.

No. It is totally acceptable. Many athletes do it.

Perhaps I was a little too restrictive. If the race you've won is your district 1600, yes.

You can take away my heart, you can take away my soul, and you can take away my mind, but you can NEVER take away my joy of WINNING.

Depends on the race. In my opinion, if it wasn't the Olympics or other major international race, then yes it is cocky and more than that, makes you look simply ridiculous and arrogant.

Actually I broke up with my boyfriend in high school because of this. He won states and fist-pumped and instantly became kind of unappealing and repulsive to me. To me it revealed something about his character that I hadn't known before. I really tried to get over it but I couldn't. Not a huge deal, just a high school relationship, but I definitely wasn't the only girl who felt that way. A few girls dug the cocky bravado thing but the majority didn't.

Just another anonymous perspective, in case you find it useful.

No. Tiger Woods does it all the time.

You guys are boring. I would occasionally give a little celebratory hand gesture. I didn't even really think about it, it was more of a heat of the moment thing, and usually only after a hard fought race. I also won sportsmanship awards and seemed to be well liked by teammates and competitors both. I certainly wasn't seen as arrogant. You might say how would I know, but I think most people have a pretty good idea how they're viewed, it's just a matter of whether they admit it.

woman here wrote:

Depends on the race. In my opinion, if it wasn't the Olympics or other major international race, then yes it is cocky and more than that, makes you look simply ridiculous and arrogant.

Actually I broke up with my boyfriend in high school because of this. He won states and fist-pumped and instantly became kind of unappealing and repulsive to me. To me it revealed something about his character that I hadn't known before. I really tried to get over it but I couldn't. Not a huge deal, just a high school relationship, but I definitely wasn't the only girl who felt that way. A few girls dug the cocky bravado thing but the majority didn't.

Just another anonymous perspective, in case you find it useful.

0/10.

In response to OP, a small acknowledgement of victory is acceptable in any honest varsity race. You can overdo it. One person from a school let loose an inhumane roar after he won his 3200M regionals (in Wisco it goes regionals, sectional, state) and it was a fairly weak regional too. Winning is fine, but modesty is appreciated in the sport as well.

A simple clenched fist with a small pumping action below your head usually suffices as an acknowledgment of victory in most races. The bigger the race, the more you can celebrate.

FP wrote:

A). It is unsportsmanlike and you should have been DQ'd.

B). You're a pussy for only running 1600 instead of the full mile.

A. Overly sensitive people are running sports. What he described is harmless, a show of joy. Maybe the fact he crushed the field made it a bit much. Could be borderline taunting. In a close race though, no problem.

B. The 1600 should be scrapped and replaced, but with the 1500.

woman here wrote:

Depends on the race. In my opinion, if it wasn't the Olympics or other major international race, then yes it is cocky and more than that, makes you look simply ridiculous and arrogant.

Actually I broke up with my boyfriend in high school because of this. He won states and fist-pumped and instantly became kind of unappealing and repulsive to me. To me it revealed something about his character that I hadn't known before. I really tried to get over it but I couldn't. Not a huge deal, just a high school relationship, but I definitely wasn't the only girl who felt that way. A few girls dug the cocky bravado thing but the majority didn't.

Just another anonymous perspective, in case you find it useful.

I foresee many lonely nights for you.

If you win a big race (big of course is relative), I think it's acceptable. I did a small fist pump when I won XC provincials in high school, and it went over fine... I did a larger hand raise my senior year of university when I won a conference race for the first time...I felt a little silly after that but it wasn't totally out of the ordinary. It was just a big race for me and I was very happy.

I usually do it as joke. I've done it several times at small time meaningless 5K's even when I don't win as it makes for a hilarious race photo. I've done the Stember Airplane (a Let's Run-approved celebration) on occasion and have pointed at the race clock with a smug look on my face as well.

I'm not going pro, not elite, not going to the Olympics. Best to have fun, train hard, and do what I can do with my limited ability.

woman here wrote:

Depends on the race. In my opinion, if it wasn't the Olympics or other major international race, then yes it is cocky and more than that, makes you look simply ridiculous and arrogant.

Actually I broke up with my boyfriend in high school because of this. He won states and fist-pumped and instantly became kind of unappealing and repulsive to me. To me it revealed something about his character that I hadn't known before. I really tried to get over it but I couldn't. Not a huge deal, just a high school relationship, but I definitely wasn't the only girl who felt that way. A few girls dug the cocky bravado thing but the majority didn't.

Just another anonymous perspective, in case you find it useful.

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

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?

your ex wrote:

I foresee many lonely nights for you.

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.

Bunch of boring stooges in here.

I throw up both arms over my head when breaking the tape, just like in cycling.

I'm a gamer, though.

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.

Only if you are unsportsmanlike/arrogant at other times. If you're a classy competitor, then you will only do this when it is appropriate, and the moment called for it.

I wouldn't worry about it. Be yourself and don't overthink it.

When I was a soph in HS I actually did it while finishing 12th in a race. I realized I was about to break 10:00 for 3200 and I couldn't help it. I'd been trying all year to break it and I was so happy to finally do it.

Otherwise, the rest of my HS and college career, I won a lot of races (improved a lot after soph year, LOL), but only did it about 4 times -- when they were really big wins I was naturally excited about. Wasn't planned, just spontaneity.

you have to time it right