Andy LyonsGetty Images While we aren’t yet sure if we can classify 2021 as an Olympic year, we still see the quadrennial pattern playing out of professional runners switching, losing, or picking up new sponsors during this uncertain time. Related Story Seeing these shakeups calls to mind the question of what makes an athlete “valuable.” As an athlete paid to compete, what, if anything, is expected of me beyond wins, records, and finishing on podiums? If someone is good enough and “just wants to run,” is that okay? Apart from fulfilling sponsors’ direct requests, what else are we expected to do? Nowadays, what makes an athlete valuable to the fans? What do they want to be shown?