Every couple of years, the greatest athletes from every nation gather in one place to compete for the coveted gold medal. There is nothing like the Olympics to pull a country together in pride and competitive spirit. But at what cost is all this done?

The athletes that travel to participate in the Olympic Games sacrifice far more than most people realize. These amazing competitors live and breathe their sport and have done so since they were quite young. Each athlete commits themselves so much to their sport that, most times, life passes them by. They are forced to give up their childhood and the many joys that accompany it, often times including friends. They are unable to participate in extra curricular activities, and many are homeschooled for the sole purpose of putting more time and energy into their sport. The lifestyle that these incredible people live is not one of ease or comfort. Early mornings and late nights are the regular schedule for them, as they slave away trying to perfect performances that are almost impossible, and absolutely unachievable, to the common man.

Many dream of being able to go to the Olympics one day, but what they do not understand is that this means they must give their lives towards the slim chance of merely competing to receive a gold medal, as it is never guaranteed. In America, we have some of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen, but this is not a reality for the rest of the world. At every Olympic Games, we usually finish with more medals (most being gold) than any other country in the world. But in reality, this is not an easily attainable task. We push for perfection and it comes at a cost that may not be worth it. Not to mention that even the slightest mistake can cost you everything you have worked for. There are no do-overs or second chances. People easily turn on you for minimal mistakes and blame you for not being perfect. Happiness is not a common denominator in many competitors, as they are often met with heartbreak for not being flawless.

Even if you do sacrifice everything for the love of your nation, you could still fall short. Gabby Douglas had this unfortunate reality cast upon her recently. As she chose to return to the games after competing in the last Olympics, she was unable to perform as well as she previously had. The media was relentless in bashing her in every way possible, from people saying that she was a waste of space on the team, to criticizing her cheering. She was treated terribly, just because she was not as good as others were. She still won gold and placed seventh in another event, yet she was treated as if she placed last. Imagine devoting your entire life to a couple days of events, and doing quite well for competing against the best in the world, only to be told you're not good enough. It’s an awful standard to live up to.

I am all for cheering on America as the greatest nation, but I must also take a stand for those who give up everything so that we may show off to the rest of the world. The benefit must outweigh the cost. We must make it our job to support those who sacrifice so much by empowering them to do their best and assuring them that there is more to life than winning.