Whenever sportspeople gather, there is always an outpouring of respect - mostly real, sometimes fake - for each other. There is that unwritten code that forces everybody to be happy about everyone else's achievements.
Somehow at the weekend those guidelines were relaxed for John Steffensen.
And it highlighted how, indeed, athletes near at the top of their game have different approaches to their work.
Shortly after Steffensen's victory in the 400m at the Go for 2&5 Track Classic on Saturday, Geelong's new AFL captain Joel Selwood tweeted, "Anyone manage to see John Steffensen interview on ch10 tonight? #confidant (sic) #averagebloke?"
Not long later Steffensen replied via twitterverse, "call me and ask the champ yourself bud!!"
It followed Steffensen's exuberant post-race statement claiming, "It was a murder scene out there tonight - someone should have called triple zero."
Such flamboyance has cost Steffensen plenty of criticism.
If an AFL player spoke publicly (plenty do within the confines of the club changeroom) with such alacrity he would admonished by one of the many in his team's leadership group. Such a display of cockiness and bravado is against club culture. It could set up the player and team for an embarrassing fall.
But it is that show of bravado that drives Steffensen in his solo pursuit. And while his problems with officialdom have at times overshadowed his talent, Steffensen has produced an Olympic silver and world championship bronze medal for his country. Remember, this is in the track, arguably the widest contested sporting discipline in the world and one in which Australia has had limited success for almost two generations.
It is important to remember that Steffensen didn't discredit anybody else in his post-race speech. He was simply overjoyed at his performance. His exciting character came through in his celebration.
And our sport needs more of his kind.
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