Kevin Darling wrote:

Wikipedia makes an interesting point as well... that high-speed jets
taking off from an aircraft carrier need a catapult launcher to get
them up to flying speed. (Obviously the jets can also take off with a
long enough runway, but the similarity is that an assist to get to
speed shouldn't negate the accomplishment, in many people's opinions.)

The assistance doesn't *negate* the accomplishment.

However, if the assistance is *necessary* then the accomplishment
is of something slightly different.