English Version | The Olympians

16 Jul 2024
By Esteban G. Villanueva

Winners Never Quit

Gods amongst men, these are the deities trapped within mortal bodies and cursed with the decay of age, time, and health. Yet, even in the prime of their years, they have challenged nature itself to reach heights no other mortal has attained. They are the best of the best, the exception to the rule, the blessed praying from above. These are the potions and elixirs ancient heroes gave their lives for and the apples that sparked wars between civilizations. Call them gods, call them gifted, call them Olympians.

The First Circle: The Gold Medalists

They stand out from amongst the crowd as these are the best in business, the best in game, and the best in play. So called, the most valuable player, each has won gold within their own categories and has kept the standard high and the records hard to break.

The Second Circle: The Dark Horses

Unknown to many, precious gifts to others, these are the players that have made their way through the competition under the radar. Some expected them to fail, others didn’t really care about their performance, but for those who stuck around, they were greeted with the unexpected surprise of an out of world performance and a new favorite to add to one's routine.

The Third Circle: The New Legends

If you look closely at these winners you’ll recognize some names, last names, and professions. But upon further inspection, you’ll realize these aren’t the same as they were before. These are the sons and daughters of the original legends, the ones that came in centuries past. They uphold the family values, but have brought to modern time the key aspects that made them iconic and immortalized them through time.

The Fourth Circle: The Rising Stars

These are the players that one is most excited to see. Questions of who they are, where they come from, what they do are still very much in the game, yet even then, one roots for them and keeps an eye out for their development. Perhaps the rising stars of today will be the heroes of tomorrow, the legends of new books and the dark horses to come.

The Fifth Circle: The Trailblazers

Last but not least, we look at the disruptors of the industry. These are those who took the rules, broke them, and made something much better. There are none, or few, like them, and most likely more will come to try to emulate them but fail to be the same. These are the ones that we look for when it comes to innovations, changes, and new steps. The real question is, what are they coming out with now?

Translated from the original in the "Winners Never Quit" issue, published July 2024. Full stories and credits in the print version.