I'd like to put my oppions in the whole 'Lance is injured' thing, more than what I have already posted obviously.
I play a lot of sports, and have played a lot over my 19 years of life. And in every single one I hid my injuries from my: parents, coaches, and teammates because I knew that meant I would have to sit out of the one of the many sports that I loved. It also ment I would be judged by the people around: other parents, the teammates who didn't like me, other coaches in the league (if applied).
People in my life have been very open about hating me, whether it be because I'm autistic and in a sport full of mostly allistic kids or because of where I ranked compared to them/their kid. And this hate has made it hard for me to accept that I don't have to prove people wrong even if my actions are actively hurting my body.
By the age of 5 I was already hiding injuries so I could play both soccer and softball, and as I got older I just got better and better at hiding them. My most recent, hidden, one is a shoulder injury, that probably should of kept me from throwing javelin for the past 3 years, which has been bothering me since I was a freshman. I pushed through because of people judging me for either the way I function or my lack of skills (as a freshman). Yet I kept throwing jav from my freshman year to my senior year, because it was my favorite part of track and I felt I had something to prove.
The only reason I have told anyone about my carpal tunnel is because I can't hold anything with my right hand. If I try I'll either drop it or I won't have enough grip to even lift whatever I try and pick up. When my grip strength wasn't affected as much and it was just numbness and some slight pain I didn't tell anyone because I always feel the need to prove my worth.
What I'm trying to say is that when athletes have this feeling to prove they belong they hide injuries and push themselves to the breaking point of themselves or their injuries (whatever comes first). I fully believe that is what happened with Lance. From experience I know that feeling of wanting to prove the haters wrong, it is rewarding when it happens but honestly it does more harm than good.
To all of those who hate on someone for things out of their control: fuck off, it's not cute, it's not quirky, it's actively harmful and not good for any parties involved. You aren't doing anything cool by hating on someone no matter who the person you are hating is to you. Hate and jealousy go hand in hand, neither are pretty, neither are hot, neither are necessary.
And to those athletes who keep hiding their injuries: I see you, I feel you, I am you in a way... Whether it be because of a love for the sport or the need to prove a point, or both you need to get injuries checked. Don't end up like me where you still need to get 4 different surgeries because of your negligence. Or hell, do be like me and you'll be 3 surgeries in already and yet you still haven't learned from your mistakes.
Thank you to everyone who read this, I get into it when I talk about hate. My childhood wasn't the kindest and I don't wish that fate on anyone. Thank you again and have a good morning/day/afternoon/night
