I have been having an email conversation with a friend over the last couple of days. She is Canadian, but has lived in the States for a very long time. If she were to ever be competitive in her sport again (which is can and it is a shame), she would either need to move back to Canada or get her USA citizenship. I have been bugging her about getting citizenship. Good competitors should be competing.
Her reasoning for not getting her citizenship is that if she were to place in national/world competition, she would not feel right about having it be for the USA and not Canada. She said it would feel wrong to have any other country than Canada on her back. I guess I can see her point, but I have a different way of thinking about this situation.
When I was a competitive figure skater, many people from the USA went to different countries to try and make it to world’s through their nationals or European championships. There was and is such a gluttony of skaters in the USA that it can really help out a singles, pairs, or ice dancing team. The goal was the medal. Country representation was and is only a big deal because of the Olympics. If the IOC would stop making it be coutries, fans of different sports would not care.
If it were up to me, I would compete for any country that would have me. Well…. I take most of that back. I would never compete for China (the oligarchy not communism). And a few others, but I am sure they would never want me either!
I have heard other people speak of loyalty to their country and this and that and I find it quite fascinating. A person would rather not win and prove that he/she is at the top of the sport just because he/she can not represent a certain country? It is wacky. I wonder if a lot of people think this way!?
Mel