<p>timely - Yes, WP is looking for athletes who excel in their field, but more importantly, WP is looking for a competitive spirit in its candidates. To quote the WP Candidate Book (Smallwood) “True athletes are competitive by nature and that is what is required in officers who can lead others, especially in combat. … Can you imagine a second lieutenant who is not competitive trying to lead a platoon of men up a hill into enemy fire?”
In non-recruited athletes, it is more about the willingness to compete , will to win (and ability to deal with failure, by dusting yourself off and trying again), than the winning itself.
Good luck to your son.</p>