This article examines whether elite athletes have an ethical obligation always to try their best, especially when representing their countries at the Olympic Games. Through an analysis of cases of athletes failing to try their best at the London 2012 Olympics, this paper analyses the moral acceptability of not trying. By applying the sport ethics literature on personal bests, duties to one's self, and game flaws, this article distinguishes when failing to try one's best can be considered a legitimate strategy in line with the ethos of the game, and when failing to try should be condemned.