Saturday, May 25, 2013

Stroke, stroke!

An athlete is defined as a person possessing the natural or acquired traits, such as strength, agility and endurance that are necessary for physical exercise or sports, especially those performed in competitive contests.

A coxswain, on a crew team, is the person in charge of navigation and steering. The literal meaning is boat servant.

We have an acquaintance who has a relative who is a coxswain. My wife and I overheard a conversation in which this person was going on and on about what a great athlete her relative had become since becoming a coxswain.

So the question arises: does a coxswain fit into the currently accepted definition of an athlete?

Clearly it's even a source of contention among the coxswains.

One internet company sells T-shirts with the logo, "I do not look like an athlete, but I am a coxswain on a crew team."

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