As I have observed critical commentary of high-level athletes over the years there seems to be, whether intended or not the implication that champion athletes who put together winning performances over and over again are not human and live without emotions. Based on my personal experience and research that implication is 100% wrong.
In the current issue of Sports Illustrated(Greg Bishop, March 3, 2021) Ski Racer Mikaela Shiffrin was interviewed. It is an article worth reading for anyone interested in ski racing and her career, but more importantly for anyone interested in how the very best thrive at the top.
The willingness to do whatever it takes to become the very best and to stand on top of the podium, not just once, but over and over again and season after season is not possible for every competitor. In fact, it is one of the reasons why we see individuals with immense talent never quite reach the very top or if they do it is only for a very brief moment.
In my previous post I talked, in general about the massive effort that goes into the making of a champion athlete. In this post I will start to break down the process of what is behind the massive effort to get to the very top in the sport of ski racing or for that matter to reach the top in any sport or any endeavor.
The effort given by the greatest champions in sport to become the very best – to win - is massive. In fact, the effort is so demanding that it and not athleticism or physical prowess is ultimately the separating factor for those who always seem to end up on top. For the very best, supreme athletic talent is a given, but talent only opens the door and the possibility for greatness.
"I can't wrap my head around it. It's a number, right? I don't even know what the number is. But it's a number," said Shiffrin, who took bronze in Thursday's opening event, the super-G. "So, in that way, sure, I can say, 'That's cool.' But today I was focused on today and in the super-G, I was focused on the super-G," Mikaela Shiffirn in a CBS News Interview.
Tom Brady will finish his athletic career as not just the greatest quarterback of a generation or two, but as one of the greatest athletes ever to participate in any sport.
Physical activity is good for your health. Even the most basic levels of physical activity are better than doing nothing. Unfortunately, for too many people regular physical activity is not part of the daily schedule. The question is why? Why not do something that is known to improve health and make you feel better?
In case anyone was still wondering, there is an enormous cost and behind the scenes effort that goes into being the very best in virtually any profession.
For those of you interested in finding the right coach for your child, the article that I reference below which was written by Edith Thys for Ski Racing magazine describes such a coach. Coaching young kids is more of an art and a feel that must be centered around fun and enjoyment.
