Would You Rather #46: Be an Olympics Gold Medalist or a Nobel Peace Prize Winner?

(c) nbcolympics.com

This year’s Olympics competition recently ended where new talents were unveiled and the old and consistent ones hailed. By their performance at Rio, some athletes have had their statuses changed from ordinary people into role models and somewhat celebrities. For some, this status upgrade will be a stepping stone into reaching greater heights; and for others, it will only be fleeting moment of fame to be remembered fondly.

Among many of the names which were celebrated internationally was that of the amazingly talented Simone Biles. Spectators couldn’t get enough of her. After winning her first couple of gold medals, her story began to break the internet. Her uneasy past made her more admirable and an icon of hope for everyone who has a dream and yet going through a hard time. At the end of the games, she came out as a multiple winner and an inspiring character for this generation. It was a win-win.

The Nobel Peace Prize is also another coveted honor to be bestowed with. It is one of the Nobel Prizes created by the Swedish industrialist, inventor and armaments manufacturer Alfred Nobel along with prizes in Chemistry, Physics, Physiology or Medicine and Literature–Wikipedia (a little education is called for, don’t  you think?) 

Unlike the Olympics which is widely known and appreciated across age groups and varying educational levels, the Nobel Peace Prize is appreciated more by the elites of the society. Although this prize has been awarded 96 times to 129 Nobel Laureates between 1901 and 2015, I wonder how many of us know even ten of them. I’ll be honest, I didn’t till I googled it a few minutes ago. 

(c) Google Images.

The prize is awarded for outstanding contributions in peace; to those who have done their best to uphold and promote peace. It is very noble thing to be acknowledged for. Without peace in our society, no one is safe and no progress is assured. 

Being acknowledged with a gold medal at the Olympics games and honored to be a Nobel Prize Laureate are both respectable but they would appeal to people differently depending on what they are exposed to and what they deem more significant. And as such, each choice should be respected.

As much as I admire the Michael Phelps, the Simone Biles and the Usain Bolts of the Olympics and their successes prove that hard work, passion and persistence pays off, I am not the athletic kind so dreaming of it would be a waste of time. On the other hand, to be honored as a Nobel Prize Laureate for Peace or Literature doesn’t sound like a bad idea, right? I know, we are all born different so we would be attracted to different things. That’s the beauty of variety.

Although the winning Nobel Peace Prize may not sound that popular as compared to winning the Olympics gold medal which usually comes with fascinating endorsement deals, I think the former would suit me more than the latter. But if you need someone to cheer you on to win the next gold medal, I’m your girl! 👏

What about you, which prize appeals more to you and why? Let me know what you think. I always love to read your thoughts.

© Josephine Amoako 2016