I don’t know about you, but I spent a good percentage of August evenings glued to the television whilst watching the Rio 2016 Olympics. Even if you are not a sports lover, I defy you not to feel at least a little bit inspired by seeing those athletes at the peak of human achievement. We got to witness power, strength, grace, determination, plus the whole gamut of human emotions play out before our eyes.
It is easy to feel that we can’t learn anything from watching such obvious talent, and this is just a spectator sport, but in fact there are lessons there for us all.
You are never too old (or young) to be your best
The oldest UK medal winner at Rio 2016 was Nick Skelton, who at 58 won a gold medal in the show jumping. Regardless of what you think about the physical requirements of riding a horse, I can assure you that this is an incredible achievement, only accentuated by the fact that he was initially forced to retire 16 years ago after breaking his neck. If this proves anything to you, it is that regardless of age, injury and ability, we all have the potential to achieve our wildest dreams and should never give up.
Don’t put off giving an activity a try because you have labelled yourself as ‘too old’, ‘too unfit’ or any of another number of excuses. Very often there are lower level ways of getting into a new hobby, and although you may not have the time or ability to be a champion, there are countless opportunities to try something new. I have done it myself this year, when, having finally accepted that my dodgy knees no longer like pounding the pavements running, I have instead been learning to kayak. The joys of taking up an entirely new sport have instantly moved me away from years of frustration, and into a new found excitement and curiosity. Starting over has been a complete revelation, and I now know that I have many years of improvement to look forward to!
It isn’t over until it is over
Successful athletes never quit, even when things are not going their way. Until they cross the line or hear the final whistle, they know anything can happen. How many times did you see an athlete at Rio 2016 tumble (Mo Farah), or a tennis player drop a set (Andy Murray), and then still go on to triumph? The ability to keep their composure and be in the present moment is what so often differentiates athletes who bounce back, from those who give up too soon.
Our lives are the same. Nobody gets it all their own way, and there are the inevitable obstacles, setbacks and failures which we all have to face. We always have a choice; to be defeated, or to dust off, re-evaluate, and move forwards. Remember the saying ‘winners never quit, and quitters never win’ when you are next faced with a situation which at first seems bleak. Do not accept less of yourself than you are truly capable of!
Incredible work ethic can outrank a genetic gift
I can think of a number of athletes who according to the ‘rules’, weren’t the right height, build or background to excel, but have gone on to exceed everyone’s expectations (except their own). Or on the flip side, an apparently gifted athlete with all the right markers who failed to make the grade. Talent can only take us so far – we still need the passion and desire to do whatever is necessary to achieve success.
You may believe that you not have the educational background, financial support or whatever ‘tools’ you have told yourself that you need in order to move towards your goals. Yet some of the biggest achievers in life were F-students, grew up in abject poverty, and faced nothing but obstacles on their path to success. It is all a matter of self-belief, and having an unwavering ability to put in the work.
I accepted at a very young age that due to my heart condition and childhood surgery, I wasn’t likely to do well at school sports. To be honest, I didn’t even try, and it wasn’t until I was at university that I decided to challenge my self-perceived limitations and see exactly how good I could be. I tried running, then cycling and finally swimming, eventually going on to become an above average recreational triathlete. I had to work hard, perhaps even harder than someone who had a fully functional cardiovascular system, but I put in my time and rarely wavered in my focus. I don’t tell you that to make you impressed, but rather so you see that regardless of our history, we can all do and be better than we think.
The mind dictates action
How often at Rio 2016 did you see an athlete who become mentally defeated long before their body gave up? In some sports it is called ‘choking’, that moment when we can see the momentum turn against an individual or team. Lose confidence and belief, and the competition is almost certainly lost. Many professional athletes employ sports psychologists to help them deal with the mental pressures of their sport, and to learn techniques to help them to optimally handle the inevitable rise and fall of their fortunes. I use a saying when I am teaching fitness classes; “If you think you can, or you think you can’t, then you are right” purely to remind my clients about the power of the human mind to dictate what we can achieve. Listen to your own self-talk in times of challenge, and see if you are allowing your mind to help or hinder your ability.
Winners never make it alone
Even in highly individual sports, the medal winners are generally keen to thank their support team. We may only see the athlete themselves on the podium, but invariably there is a huge team of physiotherapists, sports psychologists, nutrition experts, coaches etc. who have operated behind the scenes to keep them healthy and on track. They are not the ones who get the glory, but it couldn’t be done without them.
Everybody needs help to be a winner, no matter if your goal is in sport, business, career, lifestyle or pretty much anything else. Surround yourself with people who elevate you to a new level, fill in your weaknesses, and allow you to bring out the best of your ability. There is that well-known adage that we are only as successful as the 5 people we spend the most time with. I find that a little simplistic, but there is an underlying truth that being around people who are smarter or better than us, is the fastest way to elevate our thinking and chances of success.
It takes years and years of consistent effort to bring home a medal
We can all acknowledge that simple fact, so why do we expect overnight results when it comes to achieving our own goals? Often more interesting than that medal-winning performance is the athlete back-story, that behind-the-scenes glimpse into their daily lives. Most often we learn of their struggles, and the obstacles which they have had to overcome to get where they are now. We get to see a snapshot of their daily training regime, and the years of sacrifice and repetitive action which has led them to their moment of glory. For every athlete that makes it to an event like Rio 2016, there are countless others for whom the sacrifice becomes unacceptable, or the necessary physical or mental discipline becomes too much.
It is all too easy to assume that successful athletes have some gift in life which us regular folk have not been privy to. The ‘I could never do that’ mentality. Yet I only have to look at many high-level sports people when they retire from competition, and note their ongoing achievements in whatever their new passion, to realise that their discipline and mental strength carries over into the rest of their life. They have trained themselves to double down on any area where they seek success. Regardless of your goal, honestly and consistently put in your best effort, and then see where that can take you.
Life is a journey, not a destination
Learn to see your life as a journey, with its inevitable ups and downs. One ‘bad’ meal does not mean that you have failed in your ambitions to lose weight; an injury or illness can only derail your desire to run (or bike, swim, weight lift, go to a circuit class etc.) if you allow it to do so. Be patient with yourself and keep the end goal in sight. If you have a passion to achieve something, then be prepared to fight for it, and never give up.
If you are lacking the inspiration to keep working towards your goals, my suggestion is that you spare some time over the next few weeks to tune the TV and watch ‘The Superhumans’ of Rio 2016. Paralympic athletes tend to have more reasons than most not to have followed their dream, yet through sheer hard work and determination find themselves representing their country on the biggest sporting stage in the world. It is easy to look at them in awe and admiration, and not see the possibility which equally lies within each of us to excel. If you are prepared to mimic just a fraction of their dedication, then I guarantee that the opportunity to reach your own goals is just around the corner.
