Image Source: Daniel Harris
Key Takeaways
- The article explores the theme of love in sports, highlighting the different forms of love, including parental love, romantic love, and friendship.
- The stories of Derek Redmond, Andrew Strauss, Kevin Sinfield, Matt Busby, Diego Maradona, and Colin Kaepernick illustrate the power of love in sports, demonstrating its impact on performance, motivation, and personal growth.
- The article shows how love can be a driving force in sports, inspiring athletes to push beyond their limits, overcome adversity, and make sacrifices for the people and causes they care about.
- The intersection of love and sports is complex and multifaceted, encompassing themes such as identity, creativity, devotion, and social justice.
Introduction to Love in Sports
The article begins by highlighting the profound connection between love and sports. As Jim Redmond notes, "when I’m writing about sport, I’m also writing about love." This intersection of love and sports is evident in the stories of athletes who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, passion, and sacrifice in their pursuit of excellence. As the article states, "sport and love are both expressions of identity, creativity and devotion, pursued because they are right but also because it’s impossible not to."
Parental Love: Derek Redmond’s Story
The story of Derek Redmond and his father, Jim, is a powerful example of parental love in sports. During the 1992 Olympics, Derek suffered a devastating injury, but his father’s unwavering support and love helped him to find the strength to continue. As Derek recalled, "I heard a funny clap… and I honestly, for a split second, thought I’d been shot." Jim’s presence at the track, wearing a "banging Nike Air Huarache T-shirt," was a testament to the unbreakable bond between a parent and child. As the article notes, "Jim’s act resonates because it was out of the ordinary yet totally ordinary: a child is in pain, a parent does what it takes to be by their side."
Romantic Love: Andrew Strauss’s Story
The article also explores the theme of romantic love in sports, highlighting the story of Andrew Strauss and his wife, Ruth. Strauss’s love for his wife was evident in the way he spoke about her, saying, "It’s to remind me why I play cricket… For my family – my wife Ruth and my boys Sam and Luca." After Ruth’s diagnosis with terminal lung cancer, Strauss stepped down from his role as director of England cricket to care for her, demonstrating the depth of his love and commitment. As Strauss noted, "To tell her story, is tough, there’s no doubt about that and it doesn’t get any easier… But I like this idea of when it is tough, it’s tough because you’re remembering her, you’re not just charging on and sort of forgetting all that side of your life."
Friendship: Kevin Sinfield’s Story
The article highlights the power of friendship in sports, using the story of Kevin Sinfield and Rob Burrow as an example. When Burrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, Sinfield responded with an outpouring of love and support, demonstrating the profound impact of friendship on athletic performance and personal growth. As Sinfield said, "Rob inspires me to be a better person, a better friend, to be more kind, to think of others… Doing this, amazing things happen. Life becomes so much more fulfilling and special." The article notes that "friendship is pure" and allows individuals to be authentic and supportive of one another.
Love of the Game: Matt Busby’s Story
The article also explores the theme of love for the game, highlighting the story of Matt Busby and his lifelong romance with football. Busby’s passion for the game was evident in his playing career and his subsequent role as manager of Manchester United. As Busby said, "Winning matches at all costs is not the test of true achievement… What matters above all things is that the game should be played in the right spirit, with fair play and no favour, with every man playing as a member of his team and the result accepted without bitterness and conceit." The article notes that Busby’s love for the game was "profound" and "should be pasted in every dressing room and boardroom in the country."
Love and Social Justice: Colin Kaepernick’s Story
Finally, the article highlights the intersection of love and social justice, using the story of Colin Kaepernick as an example. Kaepernick’s decision to kneel during the national anthem was a powerful statement of love and solidarity with his community, demonstrating the importance of athletes using their platforms to speak out against injustice. As Kaepernick said, "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppressed Black people and people of colour… To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way." The article notes that Kaepernick’s courage reflects a love of his community and a love of humanity, and that his actions have inspired others to speak out against injustice.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the article demonstrates the profound impact of love on sports, highlighting the different forms of love that drive athletes to excel and make sacrifices for the people and causes they care about. As the article notes, "love takes many forms, experienced by different people in different ways and by the same people differently on different days." The stories of Derek Redmond, Andrew Strauss, Kevin Sinfield, Matt Busby, Diego Maradona, and Colin Kaepernick serve as a testament to the power of love in sports, inspiring us to rethink our understanding of athletic performance, motivation, and personal growth.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/jan/18/the-joy-of-six-stories-of-love-in-sport
