The Olympic spirit: From Paris to the world

At the Olympics, I find swimming and cycling particularly captivating, because they demand peak individual performance while also requiring athletes to seamlessly integrate within a broader team and embody its values. In my view, Jamaican athlete Usain Bolt epitomizes this balance; his constant pursuit of new levels of excellence and setting new standards is incredibly inspiring. And it’s not just the Olympics this summer; I’m also looking forward to football’s European Championships.

I have become more interested in the Paralympics thanks to the increased visibility in the media and the official agenda, and I feel most inspired by the resilience, combativity and positivity these athletes demonstrate, across sports. I am planning to cheer for our Brandywine Global colleague, Blake Haxton, who will defend his Tokyo silver medal as part of the US rowing team. PS—2024 also marks the 30th anniversary of Franklin Templeton Paris, so it is definitely an exciting year for the French team!

While I enjoy many events at the 2024 Summer Olympic, my top pick in Paris is the breaking category, which comprises a total of 32 breakdancers with 16 B-Boys and 16 B-Girls. Having grown up in New York City, where the sport originated, break dancing was edgy, athletic, and exciting in the 1990s. I’m so looking forward to seeing how the breakers will be scored and represented globally. I will be rooting for the US, but there is formidable talent from Asia in this arena too.

My favorite sport is decathlon, as it draws parallels with portfolio management and our investment strategy. Firstly, it traces its roots back to the ancient Olympic pentathlon, reflecting a rich historical legacy. Secondly, decathlon rewards all-round athleticism over specialization in one event, similar to our approach of seeking success across various investment avenues. Thirdly, it evaluates performance on a quantitative scale, without qualitative judgment.

Tennis is one of my favorite sports, both as a player and spectator, making it a must-watch for me at this year’s Olympics. I particularly enjoy watching Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner and admire his balanced play, formidable backhand and renowned work ethic. Roland Garros also stands out as one of my favorite stadiums; attending the French Open in 2023 was a memorable experience and I hope to return soon!

My favorite Olympic discipline is the decathlon because of its diverse range of sports, demanding athletes to excel across multiple areas. Decathlon, like portfolio management, necessitates dedication and a broad skill set encompassing financial analysis, accounting, forecasting, valuation, risk analytics, and more. And just as decathletes must manage stamina and multiple disciplines over an extended period, portfolio managers also prioritize sustained long-term performance.