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Singletrack · July 19 · 1 hr 11 min

ESPN's Wright Thompson on the Cost of Athletic Greatness (Sunday Conversation)

Wright Thompson is a senior writer for ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine who has profiled some of the greatest athletes and coaches of all time, including Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Steve Kerr, Pat Riley, Caitlin Clark, and Dan Gable. He's also the author of 3 books: "The Cost of These Dreams", "The Barn", and "Pappyland". In this conversation, we discuss optimization versus beauty in sports, sports as vehicles for self-understanding, why fame freezes people at the emotional age they got it, and where the tortured artist myth comes from before ending on mortality and legacy. Note - in case you're not interested, we spend the first 20 ish minutes of the conversation talking about our shared appreciation for music and certain artists and bands before getting into the aforementioned part of the conversation. Partners: Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order Janji - running apparel that goes the distance Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made Momentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes Support the show

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Wright Thompson is a senior writer for ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine who has profiled some of the greatest athletes and coaches of all time, including Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Steve Kerr, Pat Riley, Caitlin Clark, and Dan Gable. He's also the author of 3 books: "The Cost of These Dreams", "The Barn", and "Pappyland". 

In this conversation, we discuss optimization versus beauty in sports, sports as vehicles for self-understanding, why fame freezes people at the emotional age they got it, and where the tortured artist myth comes from before ending on mortality and legacy.

Note - in case you're not interested, we spend the first 20 ish minutes of the conversation talking about our shared appreciation for music and certain artists and bands before getting into the aforementioned part of the conversation.


Partners:

  • Precision Fuel and Hydration - use code SINGLETRACK at checkout for 15% off your next order
  • Janji - running apparel that goes the distance
  • Raide - Making equipment for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains 
  • Norda - check out the 005: the lightest, fastest, most stable trail racing shoe ever made
  • Momentous - use code SINGLETRACK for up to 35% off your first order 
  • Kodiak Cakes - my favorite oatmeal and pancakes 

Support the show

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