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Would You Want to Be an Olympic Athlete?

Caterina wants to compete in the Olympics one day. Michael doesn’t think all the work is worth it. Would you go for gold?

By Alex Winnick

From the February 2026 Issue

Featured Skill: Supporting an Argument,

Standards

Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

Charlie McAvoy

Dear Michael,

I can’t wait to watch the Winter Olympics with you. Seeing the athletes skiing and skating their way to gold medals will be amazing. It’s made me realize something. We should become Olympic athletes one day! Here’s why.

For starters, Olympians are among the greatest athletes in history. We could become two of the best hockey players in the world!

Also, Olympic athletes get to travel to incredible places to play the sports they love. The 2026 Winter Olympic Games are in Italy! Our heroes, like professional hockey player Charlie McAvoy, will be there. Wouldn’t it be great to brush shoulders with top athletes one day?

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Last, we’d get to represent America. It would be a huge honor. We would wear red, white, and blue. And imagine if we won! Our country’s flag would be raised while the national anthem played throughout the hockey rink. It would be a memory we’d never forget.

What do you say? Ready to start training with me?

Your going-for-gold pal,

Caterina

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Dear Caterina,

Being an Olympic athlete sounds awesome! And you definitely have what it takes. But I don’t think the training life is for me.

First, I think we’d both really miss going to school. Did you know that many Olympic athletes didn’t go to school growing up? They had to take classes at home or while traveling to events. And we’d have to miss our favorite school activities. Say goodbye to chess club and fun field trips.

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Plus, think about how tired we would be if we had to train for the Olympics. We’d have to practice hockey all day, every day. We’d have no energy left to see our friends or go to fun events like birthday parties.

Finally, we would feel so much pressure to be the best. What if one of us got injured before we even had a chance to compete? That’s what happened to American skier Breezy Johnson. She hurt her knee before the 2022 Winter Olympics started. She had to drop out!

How about we stick to watching the Olympics on TV instead?

Your “no-thanks” friend,