Every element of the narrative was examined by pundits, from Gaines’ swimming style to Rapinoe’s hair color.
Talk show presenters kept the subject at the forefront of public conversation by making jokes about “waterlogged kicks” and “golden reputations.”
However, there is a deeper lesson to be drawn from the circumstance that goes beyond the jokes and sarcasm.
Rapinoe’s transformation from soccer hero to the focus of a media frenzy serves as an example of how erratic celebrity can be and the perils of establishing a reputation based only on seeming invincibility.
It serves as a reminder that one poorly placed kick or stroke has the power to destroy even the most dazzling reputations.
