The Winter Olympics are in full swing in Sochi, Russia and it
seems that is where the focus of the media is right now. Watching the athletes is certainly something
spectacular and it makes you wonder whether they just got an extraordinary set
of genes, or if it is something more; is it the character and personality of
the individual that gets them to where they are, competing for an Olympic Gold
Medal? What does it take to “go for the
gold”? How can you, as a student,
parent, teacher, or guardian, go for the gold each and every day?
Determination
Being an Olympic athlete takes determination. It means picking yourself up off the ground
when you fall, again, and again. It
means never quitting, even when you are tired or sore. This determination allows the Olympic athlete
not to focus on the losses, but strive for the victories. It means understanding the difference between
just winning, and achieving greatness.
An Olympic athlete is determined to put their best effort into every
practice, every match, and every day of their life. They train hard, study hard, find their
limit, and then push past it. Greatness
and success is in the level of effort, not necessarily in how many trophies are
won.
Drive
An Olympic athlete is motivated by their love of a sport, their competitive
spirit, and the challenges they have faced.
Each step is forward, never backward.
They are driven by a passion to be the best, yet they concede to their
comrades when someone else comes out on top.
Above all, the Olympic athlete has set goals. These goals give them something to strive for,
allow them to feel success and satisfaction when they are achieved, and
constantly improve as they set new goals.
Support
One cannot possibly compete for an Olympic medal without
support. Olympic athletes are supported
by their parents, brothers, sisters, and teammates. For most, they feel the support and pride of
their whole country that they are representing at the games. It’s a position filled with responsibility
and expectation, but not one that must be carried alone. Through whatever defeat, or success, an
Olympian’s support system carries them to the next challenge.
We may not all become Olympic athletes, probably missing one
of those extraordinary genes, but we can all achieve greatness and success in
our lives. The key is not to worry about
what we don’t have, but focus on what inside us gives us that fire that moves
us to continually strive to be better.
What other Olympic traits do you possess?
