There are certain immutable commonalities that unite people the world over. One is our reverence and childlike glee for Olympic hopefuls and superheroes alike—long after the flame has been extinguished and Hollywood has exhausted a seemingly endless barrage of sequels predicated on graphic novels.

Part of the universal appeal of these modern-day and fictional "heroes" is their capacity for decisive action and excellence. The commonalities between Olympians and superheroes begin to dissipate when you examine their circumstances, motivations, and results. That is, of course, to say nothing of their dramatic intrinsic differences.

Dedication To Excellence
The Olympic Games are great because the nations of the world gather to compete as equals. What sets the medalists apart from the defeated is grace and precision under pressure. By contrast, superheroes may possess incredible strengths and attributes because of dumb luck or overcoming adversity.