It is written in the most terrible of all the laws of sport: whoever you are, you will always lose in the end. There is nothing that champions win for themselves – by bravery, sacrifice, and pain – that will not, in a short space of time, be taken away. They are empty-handed conquerors. Scarcely have they reached their promised land, when they find themselves exiled once again…

Glory and fortune can be won and lost. After all, these are but worldly goods, just things. But the champion loses his title as champion. His farewell to arms is a farewell to himself.

(Alain Gerber)