The frustration progressed to a point in which Gedion Zelalem couldn’t even watch a soccer game without feeling some sort of resentment. He had given most his life to the sport, much of it in a public spotlight, and a once-promising career was stalling with a knee that wouldn’t hold up.
So for several weeks, he just left his TV off. Stopped browsing the Internet for highlights. Avoided social media.
“I’d watch a game and think, ‘I’m not sure I can do that anymore,’” Zelalem said. “So I stopped watching. But I’m happy now. I’m past that stage.