BY GARY JOHNSON
Reprinted from Loose Change (TCBMag.com)

Teenagers, a breed unto themselves. We’ve all been “there,” self-absorbed, emotionally flammable—a weird space equipped with steroidal physicality, hormonal monsoons, and magical blinders that make us think we know more than we do. It’s one reason why teenagers shouldn’t be paraded out in public too often. Case in point: McKayla Maroney.

McKayla is 16 years old. In my world, a baby. No question, Ms. Maroney is an incredible physical talent, capable of athletic accomplishments most kids her age are not. Kids sometimes shock us with their acumen. One recalls a 6-year-old Tiger Woods hitting 250-yard drives, or an 8-year-old Michael Jackson dancing his bejeezus off on Ed Sullivan—gifted children capable of pushing the outer limits of performance and skill. In the end, though, they’re still little kids and mostly emotional midgets.

So is it too much to expect sportsmanship or emotional control from a teen athlete, regardless of the disappointment they feel in their loss? I asked myself that question as I watched Ms. Maroney twisting her mouth and nose into all manner of disgust, turning her pretty brown eyes into darts of resentment and anger, and refusing to acknowledge the hugs of fellow competitors. Ms. Maroney’s behavior upon losing the gold medal in the women’s (perhaps they should call it “girls’”?) vault was a reminder that she is indeed just a teenager, and that perhaps, by placing kids her age on a world stage, with so much on the line, we unreasonably expect adult behaviors from immature amygdalae.

The rebuttal of course was 16-year-old Gabby Douglas, who conducted herself with aplomb and grace throughout the competition—before and after winning gold. Perhaps that’s what differentiates a gold-medal winner from others? Some slightly older athletes showed amazing sportsmanship in the face of defeat. Nineteen-year-old American gymnast Sam Mikulak was the picture of humility and balance as he marveled at the prowess of those who actually deprived him of a medal. Nineteen-year-old Kirani James of Grenada, a young man who soundly defeated a group of superhero-fast runners to win the gold in the 200-meter race, promptly congratulated each fellow competitor on a race well run.

It’s expecting a lot of a teenager to act like a grown-up, though a lot of so-called grown-ups could learn a thing or two from many of the Olympians in London. For those kids who really show their age, it makes us love them all the more.

McKayla Maroney will take some hard lessons away from these Olympics, and I would imagine they won’t have anything to do with the vault she blew. My takeaway is the heart-clutch in knowing there are some very visible, awake kids who will become good and solid human beings as they grow into adulthood.

Editor’s Note: Gary Johnson is President of MSP Communications in Minneapolis, MN and authors the blog Loose Change for TCBmag.com.