M18: The Rightful Winner And The Definition Of A Champion
What does it truly mean to win? In this episode, we dive into the extraordinary story of Spanish long-distance runner Ivan Fernández Anaya, who in a race in Spain, made a split-second decision that sparked a global debate. We explore the psychology of competition, the true definition of success, and why moments like these matter more than medals. Tune in for an inspiring take on integrity, sportsmanship, and what it means to be a true champion.
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M18: THE RIGHTFUL WINNER AND THE DEFINITION OF A CHAMPION
IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE THESE DAYS BELIEVES THEIR SON OR DAUGHTER IS DESTINED TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE.
OF COURSE, THE ODDS ARE NOT IN THEIR FAVOR.
GETTING THERE REQUIRES AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF INNATE SKILL AND OFTEN SIZE, NOT TO MENTION THE COMMITMENT, COMPETITIVENESS, MENTAL TOUGHNESS….AND EVEN LUCK. THE HOURS AN ATHLETE AND FAMILY MUST SPEND TO EVEN GET TO THE POINT OF BEING CONSIDERED FOR THE HIGHEST LEVEL… IS INCALCULABLE.
SO, WHEN AN ATHLETE DOES GET TO THAT POSITION WHERE THEY CAN MAKE A NAME FOR THEMSELVES, AND WIN THEIR FIRST RACE OR STEP INTO THE SPOTLIGHT….THEY FEEL THE PRESSURE TO DELIVER….THE INERTIA OF THEIR LIFE GUARANTEES IT.
THIS IS A STORY ABOUT A YOUNG LONG-DISTANCE RUNNER FROM SPAIN, ON THE EDGE OF GREATNESS – WHO WAS IN A RACE WHERE HIS COMPETITOR MADE AN INNOCENT MISTAKE. WHAT TRANSPIRED ENDED UP BEING SHARED AROUND THE WORLD, AND IT SPARKED A GLOBAL DEBATE OVER WHETHER WHAT HE DID WAS EMBARRASSING….OR BRILLIANT.
EPISODE
WHEN IVAN FERNANDEZ ANAYA WAS GROWING UP IN SPAIN, HE WAS ALWAYS A STRONG RUNNER, BUT WHEN HE WAS 17 YEARS OLD, IN 2005, HE DECIDED TO COMPETE IN THE 2,000 METER STEEPLECHASE EVENT AT THE YOUTH SUMMER OLYMPIC FESTIVAL IN ITALY. HE SURPRISED EVERYONE, INCLUDING HIMSELF, WITH A SIXTH PLACE FINISH, AND FROM THAT POINT FORWARD, HE WAS DETERMINED TO MAKE RUNNING HIS CAREER.
AS THE YEARS WENT BY, HE GAINED STRENGTH AND STAMINA, AND AGAINST THE ODDS, IN 2009 HE FINISHED 5TH AT THE EUROPEAN UNDER-23 CHAMPIONSHIPS IN LITHUANIA.
HE COULD FEEL IT…. HE WAS RIGHT THERE ON THE PRECIPICE OF BECOMING A SPANISH CHAMPION LONG-DISTANCE RUNNER – BUT THERE WAS STILL WORK TO BE DONE.
WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO WAS STRING TOGETHER SOME WINS IN ORDER TO MAKE HIMSELF THE RUNNER EVERYONE WAS TALKING ABOUT IN SPAIN.
IT WAS DECEMBER OF 2012 AND HE WAS COMPETING IN A MAJOR CROSS COUNTRY RACE IN NORTHERN SPAIN JUST OUTSIDE OF PAMPLONA. WINNING THE RACE WAS EXACTLY WHAT HE NEEDED TO GET ONE STEP CLOSER TO HIS GOAL.
IT WAS NEARING THE END OF THE RACE AND IVAN WAS IN SECOND PLACE, ALTHOUGH HE WAS WELL BEHIND THE KENYAN OLYMPIC 3,000 METER STEEPLECHASE BRONZE MEDALIST, ABEL MUTAI. IT WAS CLEAR TO IVAN THAT HE WASN’T GOING TO CATCH THEN KENYAN, SO HE’D HAVE TO SETTLE FOR THE SILVER.
HOWEVER, AS THE KENYAN REACHED THE END OF THE RACE, HE SLOWED TO A WALK ABOUT 10 METERS SHORT OF THE FINISH LINE. HIS BODY LANGUAGE SUGGESTED THAT HE BELIEVED THE RACE WAS OVER.
AS IT TURNED OUT, HE WAS CONFUSED THE BY SIGNAGE AND MARKINGS…NOT BEING ABLE TO READ SPANISH, THE KENYAN RUNNER HAD TRANSITIONED TO HIS POST-RACE ROUTINE EARLY.
IVAN WAS QUICKLY MAKING UP GROUND AND THE ERROR BY THE OTHER RUNNER PROVIDED HIM A CLEAR PATH TO VICTORY.
AS HE APPROACHED THE KENYAN, INSTEAD OF FLYING BY HIM AND WINNING THE RACE IN FRONT OF HIS HOME CROWD, IVAN FERNANDEZ ANAYA RECOGNIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND SLOWED DOWN.
HE ALERTED THE KENYAN RUNNER TO WHERE THE FINISH LINE WAS WITH HAND GESTURES…AND IVAN LED HIM FORWARD TOWARD THE FINISH…STAYING ONE STEP BEHIND, ALLOWING THE OTHER ATHLETE TO FINISH THE RACE AS THE RIGHTFUL WINNER.
VIDEO OF THE FINISH WENT VIRAL A FEW WEEKS LATER. THERE WAS AN INTENSE DEBATE OVER IVAN’S DECISION AND WHETHER THIS MADE HIM A FOOL, OR A HERO.
EVEN IVAN’S OWN COACH CALLED WHAT HAPPENED AN ATHLETIC FAILURE.
ONE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE’S MOST FAMOUS QUOTES WAS AROUND THIS EXACT SITUATION. HE SAID:
“NEVER INTERRUPT YOUR ENEMY WHEN HE IS MAKING A MISTAKE.”
GIVEN THE RIGHT CONFLICT AND STAKES, I WOULD GUESS IVAN FERNANDEZ ANAYA AGREE’S WITH PREMISE OF NAPOLEON’S QUOTE.
HOWEVER, ON THAT DAY IN 2012…GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES…EVEN THOUGH A WIN WOULD HAVE VAULTED THE 24-YEAR-OLD’S CAREER FORWARD…. RACING PAST THE KENYAN JUST DIDN’T SEEM RIGHT.
EVEN NOW, PEOPLE CONTINUE TO DEBATE HOW TO CLASSIFY WHAT TOOK PLACE.
THERE’S NO DOUBT THAT HE THREW A VICTORY AWAY. I GUESS, IN THE END, IT COMES DOWN TO HOW YOU DEFINE VICTORY.
IVAN FERNANDEZ ANAYA DIDN’T ENTER HIS NAME INTO THE RECORD BOOKS AS A WINNER THAT DAY, BUT HE MADE HIS CASE FOR A BETTER DEFINITION OF PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE, ROLE MODEL, AND CHAMPION.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iv%C3%A1n_Fern%C3%A1ndez_(athlete)
https://www.fairplayinternational.org/honesty-of-the-long-distance-runner