I asked a couple of friends (not athletes) what the word ‘Sportsmanship’ meant to them. A few believed that one is a sportsman when one lives the healthy and trained life of an athlete. Most believe that a true sportsman is a good athlete and one that is a constant winner. These are definitely qualities a sportsman needs and yet, in my opinion, there is so much more to the word sportsmanship.

Winning is obviously very important and getting there is definitely no easy task. But being a winner, the number 1, is not synonymous to being a sportsman. However it is on that podium that one can best be tested. Sportsmanship possesses various other attributes and why not, gifts. Sometimes there are physical signs like a smile, a hand shake or a hug among athletes but it is not something one can touch or see. It is a feeling you feel in the air. An attitude you can perceive, a way of life both on and off the track or competition/training venues. A feeling of mutual respect among athletes and for the sports they practise. A fresh, healthy and energetic sports outlook that is shared among many.

First of all, any athlete who in my opinion is entitled to be called a sportsman has to learn not only how to win, but also how to accept losing.

Accepting defeat is not easy, let alone doing it gracefully. However when one does realise that sport is not only about him or her, but about one big family beyond the individual self, one is definitely in more of a position to transform any source of energy into positive rather than negative.

And that is what it is all about. Being able to transform your own personal sports experiences into a positive experience not only for yourself but also those around you. The feeling within has to be honest and sincere and accepting results is of essence.

Once you understand this concept it is easy to race or play under the flag of ‘Fair Play’ and be a true sportsman before, during and after competition. One always has to be fair and just, even at one’s own expense. If one feels that an injustice has been made to another athlete even if it benefits us, we should always be ready to speak up and go beyond material results.

Because being a sportsman is a state of mind. And what we do not deserve we should never accept as ours. A sportsman knows how to win gracefully but also lose gracefully.

Obviously this does not mean that one should not train and work hard to win, or that one should give his/her competitors an advantage or an easy ride. Definitely not. Would go against sportsmanship.

One should always give 100 % and strive to be the best, or at least achieve their personal best. But this process should be achieved without the use of drugs or any other illegal enhancement, in a positive environment not only wishing the best for oneself but also for those that were better on the day fair and square.

It is about possessing integrity and having not only physical but also mental discipline. it is this mental discipline combined with the physical that will in the end create a true sportsman. Recognising the thin line of when one is or is not a rival and knowing how to improve from ones mistakes is also very important.

It is imperative to realise that one cannot blame other athletes for their own performance. Performing well or badly is up to us. If we perform badly it is no one else’s fault but our own. Creating friction will never solve anything. There will be other races so the only thing one can do to improve is learn and change what went wrong and believe in the dream even more.

My sports is athletics and I have always seen things this way...If I see a number of athletes give their 100% during training, and on the day of the race battle each other till the final line to win that race, yet after the race they are able to congratulate one another, even with a simple shake or hug, I do not see a winner and many losers but many winners. Friends...to me this is sportsmanship What an ideal