The London 2012 Olympics are rock-n-rolling along right now. It's inspiring to see the best athletes in the world competing, their passion and dedication shining through. It all culminates in a proud moment of triumph or a heart wrenching moment of defeat. In case you need a visual, check out any of the Olympic commercials narrated by Morgan Freeman. Those darn things will bring a tear to your eye...
What the average everyday citizen forgets is that the Olympic Games really aren't every four years. For these athletes it's every day of their life for four years straight. It's something most people can't even imagine. Spending hours every day, training, perfecting, planning. HOURS every DAY for four YEARS straight in quest of the ultimate prize, an Olympic Gold Medal.
There are many sacrifices along the way to achieving even the opportunity to compete at such a high level. These athletes will sacrifice time spent with their family and friends to get one more training session or recovery work in. They will put career plans on hold, taking lower paying jobs that allow them to train and travel as often as needed. For many of these athletes there is so little sponsorship, if any, that they have to bank on the good will of others to donate money that goes towards paying rent, buying groceries, paying for travel to events, and all the other basic needs of a high level athlete.
It's not just the athletes that have to sacrifice things to get to the next level. Parents will sacrifice their time and money to make sure these athletes succeed. I imagine the desire to see your child achieve their dreams of getting on that podium is almost as intense as the desire to be the one on the podium. It's a heart warming experience to see parent truly dedicated to the success of their children.
Coaches will sacrifice time spent with their family and friends to help that athlete get one more rep and just a little bit closer to perfection. They'll give up weekends and evenings to carefully plan which events to attend and which to pass on to get to the next level. Wake up early to drive an athlete to an event so the athlete can relax and focus on what they need to do. Coaching these athletes is a whole different level of stress. Your knowledge, expertise, and guidance of these individuals is being put to the test. Together as a coach, athlete, and team you are laying it all on the line.
All of these individuals will spend those hours every day for years on end making those sacrifices the average individual can't even fathom to achieve a singular moment in time that may only last 30 seconds. It's every day for four straight years to achieve that brief moment in time where they raise your flag and play your national anthem as you stand on the topmost podium breathing in the glory, crying the tears of success that has been years in the making. For those athletes it's NOT every four years, it's every...single...day.
What the average everyday citizen forgets is that the Olympic Games really aren't every four years. For these athletes it's every day of their life for four years straight. It's something most people can't even imagine. Spending hours every day, training, perfecting, planning. HOURS every DAY for four YEARS straight in quest of the ultimate prize, an Olympic Gold Medal.
There are many sacrifices along the way to achieving even the opportunity to compete at such a high level. These athletes will sacrifice time spent with their family and friends to get one more training session or recovery work in. They will put career plans on hold, taking lower paying jobs that allow them to train and travel as often as needed. For many of these athletes there is so little sponsorship, if any, that they have to bank on the good will of others to donate money that goes towards paying rent, buying groceries, paying for travel to events, and all the other basic needs of a high level athlete.
It's not just the athletes that have to sacrifice things to get to the next level. Parents will sacrifice their time and money to make sure these athletes succeed. I imagine the desire to see your child achieve their dreams of getting on that podium is almost as intense as the desire to be the one on the podium. It's a heart warming experience to see parent truly dedicated to the success of their children.
Coaches will sacrifice time spent with their family and friends to help that athlete get one more rep and just a little bit closer to perfection. They'll give up weekends and evenings to carefully plan which events to attend and which to pass on to get to the next level. Wake up early to drive an athlete to an event so the athlete can relax and focus on what they need to do. Coaching these athletes is a whole different level of stress. Your knowledge, expertise, and guidance of these individuals is being put to the test. Together as a coach, athlete, and team you are laying it all on the line.
All of these individuals will spend those hours every day for years on end making those sacrifices the average individual can't even fathom to achieve a singular moment in time that may only last 30 seconds. It's every day for four straight years to achieve that brief moment in time where they raise your flag and play your national anthem as you stand on the topmost podium breathing in the glory, crying the tears of success that has been years in the making. For those athletes it's NOT every four years, it's every...single...day.
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