Sportsmanship can be and is often evident on the stages of most bodybuilding contests . A great deal of hand shaking , fist bumps and hugs when the final outcomes are announced . This is what we have come to expect from our competitors and athletes , good sportsmanship .
This is not what this article is all about .
Bodybuilding , unlike hockey , basketball and a plethora of other team sports is unique in that is individual and you actually pay to be judged . Yes , you decided to be judged based on the physique you bring to the stage . You are judged on your physique as well as against all the other physiques you share that stage with . Each of you have determined that you have brought your best and are convinced you will win . This is what makes a great contest . The level of confidence and showmanship of some competitors is a treat to see but , don ’ t let showmanship get confused with sportsmanship .
The advent of social media has given our community a great platform to announce to the world our presence , our daily grind and more often than not our reactions to the people who post the most or best stories . We tell our friends that they look fantastic , we fill the comments section with fire emojis and build their confidence to levels that until social media was unleashed on the world we could usually only do in person . Combine this with what our parents tell us , our coaches and trainers tell us and you have a booster section of fans that is the envy of your social circle . The problem , each and every individual competing has and does the same things .
So where does sportsmanship play into this ?
For me , right from the start of the contest . The moment you hit registration when you are confronted with the athletes with whom you will be stepping on stage . You are all sizing each other up , deciding if they are good enough to beat you or if you are actually living up to your own hype . Do you walk up and congratulate them on making the journey ? Maybe you should , it doesn ’ t hurt anyone and promotes a better , friendlier competitive atmosphere .
This is only a small part of sportsmanship , a start if you will . A part that if carried out properly should extend through the contest . Yep , I dream sometimes . The latter is not usually the case and is , unfortunately , only rarely seen .
I have witnessed arguments , pushing matches and just about everything shy of fist fights prior to competitors stepping on stage . This is untenable at best . I am completely amazed that any competitor has the energy to participate in such behavior .
On stage , is a different vibe as well . In some line-ups , particularly larger classes , you might see a little elbow bumping or stepping in front , this is not necessarily unsportsmanlike but leans more towards showmanship . No worries though , the head judge will put a stop to it if it gets unruly . What if though you do not feel you are placed in the right position in your line-up ? Do you know for sure that this is where you will be placed in the results ? How will you react ? Most will react with grace , take their position in the line-up and carry on , some others will openly show