Recently, on the same day that Serena Williams announced her intention to retire from tennis, the radio played the 1975 hit song “Yesterday’s Hero” by John Paul Young. Yes, life is short, especially a sports person’s tenure at the top of his or her game.
Although former world number one tennis players Roger Federer and Serena Williams tried to hold on as long as possible, there is a time when one can’t outwit and outplay the upcoming youngsters anymore. And, as with many sports heroes before them, they had to accept that some time sooner or later they’d become “Yesterday’s Hero”. Somewhere between 30 and 40 years of age one’s body will just not be that competitive any longer.
Ever heard of the once well-known athlete Carlos Lopes? He astonished the world when he won the Olympic gold medal in the men’s marathon at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. At the age of 37 he not only won, but also set a new Olympic record in a time of 2:09:21. He became the oldest man ever to have won an Olympic gold medal in the marathon.
On 20 April 1985, at age 38, he set a new world record of 2:07:12 at the Rotterdam Marathon, the first person ever to run a marathon in less than 2 hours 8 minutes.
But as it regularly happens with older athletes, he had to retire by the end of that year because of too many injuries. At his present age of 75 he is hardly remembered by any of us today, an excellent example of “yesterday’s hero”.
John Paul Young puts it well in his song:
They say: haven’t I seen your face before
Weren’t you the boy that used to live next door
Weren’t you on television every night
Haven’t I seen you round
Yes, I was the boy who used to live next door
Yes, I was on television every night
Haven’t you seen me round
Take a look at me, I’m yesterday’s hero
Yesterday’s hero, that’s all I’ll be.
This also applies to a retired politician. There was a time when he was offered the best seat and the newspapers published whatever he said. Yet, once retired, people hardly take notice of him anymore. Similarly, 20 years down the line, the Miss South Africa finalist of today will perhaps have become just another mother standing next to a netball court cheering on her teenage daughter.
Nothing is wrong with competing and striving to be the best, but the reality is that the glory days are often short-lived. In this world, nothing lasts forever.
Sometimes, though, one great achievement can open doors that will benefit one for the rest of one’s life. Think of Susan Boyle, who auditioned on Britain’s got Talent in 2009 at the age of 47. People were so astounded by her incredible rendition of “I dreamed a dream”, which more than 100 million people viewed on YouTube.
Since then this Scottish singer has released eight more albums, the last in February 2019. She has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide, has twice been nominated for a Grammy Award and in 2022 her net worth is estimated to be $40 million.
Many people desire a Susan Boyle-type big break in life to just get them ahead once in their lifetime. Some people who win such a competition become famous like Boyle, while others quietly follow the “Yesterday’s Hero” route soon afterwards.
Although winning such a competition leads to instant fame, the reality is that years of hard work usually happen before the person’s participation in such a competition, and it is the hard work put in afterwards that will eventually lead to success. This was also the case with Boyle, who took singing lessons for many years before participating in Britain’s got Talent.
Therefore one needs to work hard anyway, for even if one doesn’t win any competition it will still benefit one, because it is the hard work that pays off eventually, not luck.
*David Malherbe is a freelance writer and lives in Langebaan.
