England cricket legend Freddie Flintoff says he ‘doesn’t understand’ silver and bronze medals and wants to see awards for coming in second and third place scrapped from sport.
The talkSPORT Breakfast’s latest member started his debut show on Monday with a rather bold claim that perhaps shows the elite winning mentality that made him such a brilliant player.
Gold, silver and bronze medals have a long history in sport, beginning with the first summer Olympic Games to be held in the United States in 1904.
While many may dispute why silver and bronze medals are handed out in football, cricket and other major team sports, especially at tournaments like the World Cup, there’s an argument that they hold a different meaning at the Olympics.
Finishing in second and third place are achievements still treasured by lots of athletes – it’s a sign of their participation on the greatest stage their sport has to offer, and that they are one of three top individuals on the planet.
But that ideal isn’t shared by everyone. It’s common to see athletes quickly take off their bronze and silver medals in frustration, after working so hard to win the gold and falling just short.
Not only that, the person who has beat them is right there on the top podium, taking in the applause and signing along to their own national anthem! Talk about rubbing it in…
Flintoff certainly seems to be in the latter camp – he believes there shouldn’t be an award for anything other than first place, and told talkSPORT about when he GAVE AWAY his runners-up medal when England were beaten in the final ICC Champions Trophy at The Oval.
“This is contentious, but you know in the Olympics and athletics you get a gold medal? I’ve never understood the silver and bronze,” said the Ashes winner.
“I wouldn’t want to be reminded!
“I remember we got to the final of the ICC knockout tournament and got beaten by West Indies in 2004.
“As I was walking off after the presentation I gave the medal to a kid in the crowed.
“I didn’t want to be reminded that we’d been beaten! I just want winners’ medals!
“You want to be in the first place podium, you want your anthem being played, you want the gold, you want your hand shaken first.
“It’s not just something that bothers me, I’ve never understood it!”
