In the world of elite sport, where everything is planned down to the last minute detail, surprisingly few are prepared to acknowledge the inherent role of luck in the outcomes of sporting contests.
It is surprising because luck is a factor that has the potential to affect the outcomes of competition. It can be the difference between a premiership and an early finals exit, or a gold medal and no medal at all.
It is also surprising because the notion of luck is ingrained in so many areas of sport and society – through common actions (fingers crossed, or wearing “lucky socks”), sayings (wishing competitors “good luck”), and religious connections (prayers to various gods of luck or fortune).
Even if athletes, coaches and fans do not want to outwardly acknowledge it, luck is actually part of what makes sport so compelling.
While stronger competitors and teams tend to win, weaker teams or athletes know they still have a chance to snatch victory based on something more than skill alone.
The harder I work, the luckier I get
Presumably, part of the reason that coaches and athletes in particular do not want to outwardly acknowledge the role of luck is that they spend most of their waking hours reducing the possible influence of luck (and increasing the array of things that are perceived as being under their control).
This matches well with the variously-attributed maxim “the harder I work, the luckier I get”.
But it’s not that simple.
Take injuries for example. Coaches and sport scientists use a variety of training and recovery activities to prepare athletes for the rigours of competition.
But as elite athletes push their bodies to the limits, they are more susceptible to injuries.
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