Posted on 08/05/2013 8:07:57 PM PDT by SamAdams76
18-year-old Meghan Rutledge was excited that she was on her way to her an easy Moto X gold medal win at the Summer X Games over the weekend when she made the decision to fist pump in celebration before the finish line.
Unfortunately for Rutledge, that resulted in her coming down awkwardly on the bike and crashing as she watched her competitors fly by the finish line.
After the race, Rutledge was devastated and she chalked the mistake up to young age.
“I was out there leading. I’m really young. I’ve never led an X Games before. I celebrated a bit too early and made a mistake, unfortunately, which gave Vicki Golden an opening to take first again,” said Rutledge, via ESPN.com. “If I had stayed on the bike, there was no way I could have lost. I had one straight to go. But, you know, mistakes happen.”
It’s unfortunate. It’s embarassing. But, it is also a lesson to young kids everywhere: Keep your hands on the wheel/handlebars and keep your eyes straight ahead. Save the celebrations until after you are victorious.
The good news for Rutledge is that she recovered to win the silver, but the bad news is that her mascara was running everywhere as she began to cry after making the big mistake.
If you want to see the video — trust me, you do — simply check it out below and try not to laugh at the ending that crushed Rutledge to the core:
Finally a replacement for “don’t count your chickens before the eggs hatch”.
Proof that the meathead culture so prevalent among those that go to “the shore” is a bad thing. Wub wub is dangerous.
Some of life’s lessons are only learned the hard way.
Sort of an honoific to the grunge generation or something? Games so stupid only the pierced ones give a damn?
You laugh too hard, you cry.
No, not really.
Proverbs 16:18
FReegards!
Interesting cautionary tale.
I don’t understand how she won silver — the video shows she cut that turn and went thru the barrier after her ‘recovery’ ... ?
Reminds me of Lindsey Jacobellis at the 2006 Olympics - had the Gold in the bag, then lost it “showboating” before the finish line.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iThQ1po1JLU
She tried to redeem herself at the 2010 Olympics, but finished 5th.
You can do that. I’ll have to save this for hubby in the morning— my plus 40 class racer on his Yamaha 250!
I think it’s to indicate eXtreme games.
So the barrier there was just a suggestion, I take it? :-p
I never understood it either. Just happened to marry a man that raced motocross who said it’s allowed when I asked.
“Experience is a cruel teacher, gives the exam first and then the lesson.”
-Red Tails
Agamemnon, thank you- God’s Word usually says it best.
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Unfortunately, humility isn’t much in style anymore...
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