He was a global super star. He was winning competitions in dazzling manner. His name was on virtually everyone’s lips everywhere in the world. Television, radio and magazines literally competed to have ‘breaking news’ of any form from him or his camp. He was among ‘the sweet issues’ for banters. And, he enjoyed it all. Who wouldn’t?
He could not do or say wrong. He had become a role model of many and mentor to more – most of whom he may never meet in his lifetime! Many real and ‘cooked’ stories about his credible personality and performance were making the rounds – spewed by mainstream mass media and tongue-wagging rumour creators. His infallibility stared us right in our faces. Yes, he could do or say nothing wrong!
He was an athlete of repute. He had access to kings, queens, heads of state, heads of government and other people of repute. Many would give anything to dine with him. Of course, he was rich with endorsements and sponsorships queuing for his choice. Fortunately, he related well and easily with many, thus adding some beautiful flowers to his star-filled hat.
But, one day… Yes, one day, all that good, glitter and beauty turned to disappearing mist! His fall was so sudden, so hard and so encompassing that most of his fans, global fans that is, wished and prayed that it was all a bad dream! His fall was so total and forceful that the man was emptier than when he began to climb the stairs of stardom. Worse still was the stark reality that the same mass media and rumour spreaders were the very vectors of his reversed tales.
Before you begin to attempt to guess who this is about, it’s better to put a name to the pictures you already have in your mind. This could be described as some excerpt from a real story of a real person. How many of us remember Ben Johnson? Former this and that but mainly a former Olympics champion in the 100 metres category – to be exact. Did I say ‘former’? Main stream mass media actually replace the reference ‘former’ with a much …… word ‘disgraced’. That makes him, ‘disgraced former Olympics champion!’
True, like Ben Johnson, after all is said and done, we will remember our choices. Yes, we will. When we do, will they be for better or for worse?
Many millennials may not have heard about him but let it be known that many of them alongside many older people are 
living the ‘before the fall’ life pattern of Ben Johnson. How do I mean?
This is how Wikipedia summarised his story: “…Jamaican-born Canadian former sprinter, who won two Olympic bronze medals and an Olympic gold medal, which was later rescinded. He set consecutive 100 metres world records at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics and the 1988 Summer Olympics, but he was disqualified for doping, losing the Olympic title and both records.” Such reversal!
Let us add some flesh to that summary. At 15, in 1976, he immigrated to Canada. Events proved that this choice was right because he was determined to do well in athletics. He soon followed this good move by another good choice; he joined Charlie Francis’s Scarborough Optimists track and field club. As Wikipedia noted: “…Francis was a Canadian 100 metres sprint champion himself (1970, 1971 and 1973) and a member of the Canadian team for the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. Francis was also Canada’s national sprint coach for nine years.”
Serious hard work and six years after relocating to Canada, Ben Johnson won “2 silver medals at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia”! And, as if history was playing a game of numbers with Ben Johnson, six years after his enterprise-backed rising began, he had fallen so terribly hard and shattered following the discovery of stanozolol, a banned substance in his urine sample after winning Olympics gold medal in the 100 metres dash, defeating Carl Lewis and co.
He went crashing and falling, as if he was shoved off a mountain, stripped of his most cherished attainment – the Olympics 100 metres gold medal and a globally acclaimed Olympics record – among other medals and records! So went endorsements and sponsorships worth several thousands of US dollars. So went the pile of friends too. He was still making news but all were damning and slamming! The once shiny king was now of worse value than a common peasant in the perception of many. Indeed, he had been thrown off the vessel of honour, dignity and riches on account of dishonest ways.
Now, imagine how he must have felt days or weeks after such disgrace. Imagine his shame, pain and regret. Imagine the fall and scorn. Just because of his own conscious wrong choice(s)! He would have remembered how it all began; the initial thought or the person who suggested it; the deep thoughts in considering the idea; thoughts of being caught; etc. etc. Then, he would remember his ‘baby attempts’ and the gradual and later frequent ‘dips’! Oh, how those thoughts would have ended! And, the deep regrets!
Can each of us sincerely analyse our choices over the years? Are there things we could done differently with better results? Are they issues we can share and discuss here? Or, are they things we would prefer to apply in guiding younger people personally? True, like Ben Johnson, after all is said and done, we will remember our choices. Yes, we will. When we do, will they be for better or for worse?
Let us hear from you.
