In praise of one-time winners
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jul/10/in-praise-of-one-time-winners Version 0 of 1. So Chris Froome's withdrawal from the Tour de France is more proof of British sporting misery in 2014, is it? How short memories can be. Mr Froome won the Tour last year, as Sir Bradley Wiggins did in 2012. In the 98 previous Tours, no British rider even came close. Andy Murray's Wimbledon title in 2013 came after 77 fallow years for British men's tennis; this year's defeat hardly diminishes his earlier achievement. To win a big title just once in a career is proof of the ability to win, not a tendency to fail. America's David Duval will again be in the field at next week's Open championship. Since winning his solitary Open title in 2001, Mr Duval has slid down the rankings. But he says he is now a winner who has got golf into perspective. Multiple winners like Miguel Indurain, Roger Federer and Tiger Woods are legends of their sports. But don't make the best the enemy of the very, very good. Best of luck next time to Chris Froome, all the same. |