High school PE can be a nightmare for some students, especially when the teacher fosters a culture of bullying. One Redditor, born with a congenital heart condition, was constantly teased for not being athletic and struggled to keep up during sports.
Her PE teacher, a former jock, regularly mocked her for being “the weak one” in class, pushing her to the brink of frustration. But this Redditor had a secret weapon: endurance.
When the teacher invited the class to a mountain climb, she took the opportunity to challenge him, knowing the climb like the back of her hand. What happened next was a masterclass in payback, as she not only kept pace with him but gradually pushed him beyond his limit, making him suffer on his own turf.
By the end of the climb, he was so exhausted, he had to vomit in front of the whole class. Her lesson? Never underestimate the quiet, patient one, you never know when they’ll have their moment of revenge.
A student gets back at a bullying PE teacher by outcycling him up a mountain, making him vomit from exhaustion
In many ways, school sports can define who we are, shaping how we view ourselves physically and socially. For OP, however, physical education wasn’t about the joy of sport, it was a source of embarrassment and mistreatment.
Born with a congenital heart condition, OP was never able to participate in the usual school sports like soccer or basketball, which demanded explosive energy. While OP could handle long-distance endurance sports, their PE teacher’s constant ridicule for their inability to excel in team sports created a toxic environment of shame and exclusion.
This story is a striking example of how bullying and emotional abuse can manifest in subtle ways, even within something as seemingly harmless as a PE class.
The teacher’s behavior wasn’t just teasing OP for being slow or less capable at sports; it was an overt attempt to diminish OP’s sense of self-worth. This dynamic is deeply psychological, rooted in the teacher’s desire to assert superiority through mockery and exclusion.
The teacher’s insecurity and need for dominance likely fed into his behavior, as studies suggest that bullying often stems from power imbalances, where the bully attempts to elevate their own status by putting others down.
According to Dr. Michael McCullough, a psychologist who specializes in forgiveness and revenge, revenge is often rooted in a desire to restore justice when a person feels wronged, especially in power dynamics where they feel belittled.
OP’s initial reactions to the PE teacher’s taunts, enduring them in silence, internalizing the criticism, are typical responses to emotional abuse.
Dr. Thomas G. Plante, an expert in the psychology of bullying, explains that victims often internalize these experiences, which leads to feelings of powerlessness and self-doubt.
OP, who had long accepted their physical limitations due to their heart condition, likely felt that their teacher’s comments reflected deeper insecurities about their value. The teacher’s taunting about OP’s “weakness” reinforced those earlier wounds, further trapping OP in a cycle of self-doubt.
However, instead of staying passive, OP chose to take matters into their own hands in a strategic act of revenge. By offering to race the teacher up a mountain, a feat OP knew they could accomplish, OP subtly shifted the power dynamic.
This wasn’t simply about getting revenge for revenge’s sake. Rather, it was an empowering choice to reclaim control in a situation where OP had long felt powerless.
Psychologically speaking, OP’s decision to challenge the teacher can be understood through the lens of restorative justice. OP’s need for retribution wasn’t just about striking back; it was about restoring balance after years of mistreatment.
Dr. McCullough points out that revenge often arises from the need to address perceived injustices in a way that acknowledges the victim’s hurt. OP’s race with the PE teacher wasn’t about humiliation, it was about asserting self-respect in a situation where they had been repeatedly belittled.
By showing the teacher that they were capable of more than he assumed, OP took back their autonomy and dignity.
As OP strategically paced themselves during the climb, pushing the teacher to his physical limit without dropping him immediately, they engaged in what could be described as emotional mind games. This is common in situations where victims of abuse seek to “turn the tables” and make their abuser confront their own vulnerability.
Studies show that making someone experience their own vulnerability, especially when they’ve previously belittled or humiliated you, can be a symbolic act of justice.
By keeping the teacher just above his limit and slowly pushing the pace, OP allowed the teacher to feel the physical toll of his actions. When the teacher eventually vomited from exhaustion, it wasn’t just a moment of satisfaction for OP, it was the final acknowledgment of his weakness and OP’s strength.
Take a look at the comments from fellow users:
These groups shared experiences of excelling in unexpected ways during PE
These commenters shared their own struggles with being judged unfairly in PE due to medical conditions or perceived laziness
These groups focused on the toxic behavior of PE teachers who bullied or belittled students
These commenters reflected on their own difficult school experiences with PE teachers and classmates
![[Reddit User] − Typical Fred, blows out of the gate to show how great he is, while a real cyclist hangs back and conserves energy for the last third.](https://dailyhighlight.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/wp-editor-1763626743103-39.webp "Student Gets Back At PE Teacher Who Always Shamed Him For Being ‘Weak’, And It’s Priceless")
What do you think? Was this sweet, deserved revenge, or did the Redditor go too far? Share your thoughts below!
