Sports and study

Nowadays, winter Olympic game is ongoing. It reminds me of old question - similarity and difference between sports and study.

As a part of spectrum in human activity, I assume that sports and study might share the same quality in general. When I watch young Olympians endeavour, I feel great amount of self-development and fierce competition with others to prove it, in rather naked form. I personally find that most people consider these as kind of beautiful scene, which I agree most of time. Gold medalist's triumphant moment is commonly depicted as culmination of one's achievement, a champion surged above the fiery but fair competition.

Sometimes, I wonder whether the same point of view can be taken to study - which is generally longer and more static process than sports. I personally believe it can be, but such approach is occasionally considered as taboo even amongst academics. Why is so? I may need to think more on this. Fragments of reasonings are floating around, but it may take more time and experience to stitch them into nice idea. It is still a big puzzle to me.