Small minded TVNZ 6pm News media and Valerie Adams

Please don't let me be the only one who is cringing over this weird jingoistic media coverage of Valerie's amazing olympic win?

I think Valerie is a modern day princess warrior and NZ hero. Her talent, her grace, her focus, her dignity are humbling and represents the very best our country has to offer.

Which is why I think some of this media focus is ugly and beneath her success.

Yes Nadzeya Ostapchuk was a drugs cheat. Yes it robbed Val of her moment on the podium and yes it's unfair, but now Valerie's win is legendary. It's not just a footnote in a sports almanac, the drama of her win builds her narrative as someone who stuck to the rules and won. That cheats do not in fact prosper, and that despite all the pressure to dope up and compete, Valerie did it clean and honestly.

The manner of her win builds her mana and builds the win. It in no way diminishes it.

Which is why the question line on the 6pm TVNZ News last week was weird. The story revolved around how tainted her medal was because it had physically been in the possession of Ostapchuk?

What an ugly thing to articulate.

The medal isn't tainted, it's been returned to it's rightful owner. If our sports news want to gain ratings by celebrating her win, then celebrate it. Don't drag her down into the mud.

Our medias' little brother complex needs dip for the chips on both its shoulders.

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