An Olympic athlete has to be able to draw on deep stores of energy to excel. I have always believed some of that energy comes directly from the audience. In my younger days as a musician, I had a day I performed 12 hours in a row because the energy coming from the audience was a real thing. I could have gone several more hours.

Now, as an Olympic athlete, what happens when you insult your home country in front of the whole world? You have only your own meager personal energy to depend on, and the world has little empathy for you when you stumble.