Yesterday, Mr. Paul Wilcox spoke with the Rose Scholars about the importance of sports in Britain over the course of two centuries. He is the Honorary Secretary of the Achilles Club – a track and field club for Oxford and Cambridge athletes – and is therefore well educated in the origins of track and field and how it molded the best of people. It was interesting to hear the importance of being an athlete in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Students would be removed from class for over a week at times to train and compete for the soul purpose of representing their country and winning the gold. Even before the Olympic Games became a huge event, the British were hosting the Transatlantic Games to bring forth athletes during that time.

I loved how Mr. Wilcox showed so many historical black and white photos of track athletes, military men, and college students. It was incredible to see how clothing, athletic physique, and methods of training have evolved over the years. Today, there is no doubt that America has some of the best, highest quality machines to develop and athletes body into a future first place, gold medalist. But more than that, it was so touching to see how much athletes really treasured what they did, the training they endured, and the success they achieved in representing themselves and their country. Nowadays, it seems like athletes are much more interested in making lots of money, having tons of sponsors, and simply becoming a big name. There are definitely still some athletes that practice their sport for the love of the game, but with the rise in popularity and fame and fortune, it is hard for many to remember what they stand for.

I think that the amount of training necessary to be a successful track and field star is ridiculous; the stamina and drive necessary to run hundreds of meters or even short distance requires both mental and physical training that cannot be learned overnight. It was a pleasure having Mr. Wilcox, and I hope to meet more athletes from Cornell in the future.