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Step back a bit and I think we've all been sold this fairytale idea that you need to "represent" something or, specifically a country to have meaning in your personal achievement. If you think about it, representing country A, or country B, serves the interest of the IOC and the general idea and marketability of the games more than the athletes themselves. Yes, it could be the extra cherry on top to bring glory to your home country or what not. However, does it take away from anyone's personal achievement if we just recognize people's achievements for THEM, so athlete A vs athlete B pure and simple.
We've been conditioned to place so much emphasis on this country vs country thing, and are projecting it on to the athletes as well without even second guessing it. I'm sure as heck some of them don't give two pennies worth about who they're representing but its all just part of the song and dance.
I don't hate the players for working the system to their advantage. It's a complex and often severely unfair system in the world of professional sports.
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