Rivals Or Brotherly Love

CL and I were rivals (actually more of a team mate as we were friends too) on the track when I was competing in my secondary school's track and field meet. We competed in the 800m, 1500m, 3000m and the 2000m steeplechase events. Though I won all 4 events, knowing CL was also training hard was a powerful motivator and it pushed us both to be better runners.

Yes, having a rivalry with a colleague, friend, or even your sibling can be stressful, but the right kind of competition will elevate each other's performance.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannick Sinner are currently the top 2 tennis players in the world. They faced each other in 3 of the 4 Grand Slam finals this year including the recently concluded US Open where Alcaraz won. They currently have a super rivalry and their duels definitely push each one to higher heights. Just like Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer (pictured above) before them.

Research has shown that rivalries can have perks. One study showed that runners ran almost 5 seconds faster per kilometre in a race when a runner whom they considered a rival was also racing.

Another study showed that when different NCAA, NFL, NBA, and MLB team performances were analyzed, when a team's rival beat them in the post season one year, that same team does better the next year.

Of course there are occasions when rivalries can hurt us. One study showed that people can be unethical or even ruthless when competing against a rival because they really want to win.

A big difference between rivalries that boost us versus those that hurt us is whether they are viewed as long term relationships. Nadal and Federer are real friends after they step off the court after trying their hardest to beat each other on court. Federer wrote a moving tribute to Nadal just before his last tournament. Nadal did the same for Federer just before the latter retired too in 2022. 

It appears that Alcaraz and Sinner too have an underlying friendship besides their rivalry.

Picture from Cyclinguptodate.com

This is very much like what currently happens in cycling too. Current world cycling champion and 4 times Tour De France winner Tadej Pogacar is very friendly with his rivals, even driving to a race (Milan San Remo) together. 

Pogacar and Vingegaard

This was highlighted in a viral podcast by Lance Armstrong. Some cyclists may agree with Lance, but it's probably the character of Pogacar, Mathieu van der Poel and Jonas Vingegaard etc to be friendly and get along. That is definitely acceptable and touching even.

So, you do not have to be buddies with your rival, but surely you can be friends and have mutual respect for each other. Wish each other well and do your best to beat the other and this may help both of you soar to higher heights.

References

Kilduff GJ (2014). Driven To Win: Rivalry, Motivation And Performance, Soc Pysch Per Sci. 5(8): 944-952. DOI: 10.1177/1948550614539770

Kilduff, GJ,  Galinsky AD, Gallo E et al (2016). Whatever It Takes To Win: Rivalry Increases Unethical Behaviour. A Manag J. 59(5): 1508-1534. http://www.jstor.org/stable/26157371

Pike BR, Kilduff GJ & Galinsky AD (2018). The Long Shadow Of Rivalry: Rivalry Motivates Performance Today And Tomorrow. Psych Sci. 29(5): 804-813. DOI: 10.1177/0956797617744796