Every four years, women are allowed to say something radical out loud:
I want to win.
And every four years (or lately every two plus one), we witness the Olympics giving us permission to embrace and honor the grit and determination to win that we’re usually taught to distrust.
Female athletes don’t soften it with disclaimers. They don’t pretend it “just happened.” They don’t apologize for wanting to win.
And we cheer!!
We celebrate their hunger, their discipline, their single-minded focus. We marvel at their sacrifices. We call them inspiring, relentless, driven, elite.
Yet the moment the Olympic flame goes out, those same traits, especially in women, suddenly become suspect.
Ambition turns into arrogance. Confidence becomes threatening. Desire for excellence is recast as ego.
So what is it about Olympic ambition that society finds acceptable… while everyday ambition, particularly for women, is still quietly penalized?
The Only Place We Still Celebrate Wanting to Win
Olympic athletes don’t pretend their success is accidental.
No one asks them to be more “likable.” No one suggests they should “wait their turn.” No one tells them they should be grateful just to be there.
In fact, we demand ambition from them.
We expect:
- Ruthless commitment
- Clear goals
- Obsessive preparation
- A willingness to prioritize winning over comfort
And crucially, we reward it.
But take those same qualities out of sport and place them into the workplace, leadership, or public life, and the reaction shifts.
Especially for women.
Read the full article on Substack.com.
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