What does “sportsmanship” mean to you?

asked four people from across the Trinity community

‘Sports are such a great teacher. I think of everything they’ve taught me: camaraderie, humility, how to resolve differences.’ - Kobe Bryant

There are many positive reasons why my parents have driven me up and down the Hume Highway from country Victoria to be involved in sport. Sport is so much more than just a game; it’s learning about discipline, leadership, fair play and developing life skills.

Good sportsmanship encourages teamwork, camaraderie and is the spirit of good friendships, building a sense of community. It is through these sporting interactions that led me to Trinity Grammar School and for that, I am forever grateful to Mr Dimattina.

Sport at Trinity creates an atmosphere of pride and togetherness that is hard to top. The entire Trinity community cheers together; winning or losing you can feel the energy.

It takes a village, as they say... Taking the example of Neale Daniher's fight against the MND beast where the inspirational partnership between sports, teamwork and the community is the ultimate motivation as to why sportsmanship matters.

Sportsmanship to me is putting humanity ahead of the win.

This is best shown in the moments when you see an athlete consider their opponent as a fellow human being, rather than focusing on their own success. Think of John Landy and Ron Clarke, Ivan Anaya and Abel Mutai, Gianmarco Tamberi and Mutaz Essa Barshim.

In hockey we line up, look the rivals in the eye and shake hands before the game, as a tacit promise to the opposition that we will play fair.

Being a dignified winner shows as much respect to your opponents as being a gutsy loser. It’s important to play the game in such a way that makes it possible to share a choc milk and a donut with the other team after the match.

I love working with the fine athletes of the Trinity Hockey program, and am always impressed to see their acts of good sportsmanship.