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If You’re Good Enough, You’re Old (Or Young) Enough
Raducanu and Ronaldo tear up the ageism script
The theory goes like this. When you’re a teenager, your body can play the sport but your mind can’t. When you pass 30, your mind can play the sport but your body can’t.
Emma Raducanu and Cristiano Ronaldo have something to say about this theory:
It’s plain wrong.
Raducanu just won the US Open tennis championship (without dropping a set) aged 18. She had to qualify for the tournament, having been ranked in the low 300’s just weeks ago.
Ronaldo just scored twice on his second home debut for Manchester Utd at the age of 36. He looked the best player on the pitch as his team beat Newcastle Utd 4–1 in the English Football Premier League.
Emma and Cristiano — thank you — for being the change that we all want to see.
Let’s stop putting people in boxes and holding them back. Let’s stop telling people (young or old) what they can’t do, and encourage them to show us what they can do.
Let’s start believing that in our own lives we can escape the (often self-imposed) shackles placed on us from cultural norms, expectations and self-interest protecting gatekeepers.
