What does an athlete who engages in gamesmanship tend to do?

An athlete who engages in gamesmanship typically manipulates the rules to gain an advantage over opponents. This behavior often involves taking advantage of ambiguities in the rules or exploiting loopholes to benefit their performance, rather than focusing solely on fair play. Gamesmanship can include tactics such as psychological strategies to distract opponents, bending the interpretation of rules, or engaging in behaviors that may not violate the letter of the rules but certainly challenge the spirit of those rules.

This approach contrasts with the ideals of teamwork, fairness, and promoting health, which focus on collaboration, integrity, and the well-being of all participants in a sporting context. The essence of gamesmanship lies in the strategic manipulation of the competitive framework to enhance one's own position, even at the potential expense of the sporting spirit.