Even Olympians Face Adversity...It Just Depends What You Choose To Do About It!

I am addicted to the Olympics, a true couch potato! I want to feel the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat myself by living vicariously through the athletes who are competing in the Winter Olympic Games. I actually resented having to answer the phone and had to schedule my calls at a time that would not interfere with the sports I wanted to watch! I sometimes wonder what they have that a lot of us lack. Is it some magical ingredient that helps them lead a charmed life, therefore making it easier for them to excel? Or is it just plain grit and determination to achieve success no matter what difficulty gets in their way. Have they a fairy god “something” that looks over them and enables them to endure what the rest of us cannot? Or do they know the result of endurance is personal satisfaction and self fulfillment.

Consider Lindsay Vonn, who despite a leg injury, suffered through the pain to capture the gold in the women's downhill and the bronze in the Super G. Look at Evan Lysacek, he didn't have a quad in his men's figure skating program, but he did not let this stop him from skating the performance of his life and winning the gold. And then there is little known short track racer J.R. Celeski who endured a severe injury to his leg in September 09 at the Olympic try outs, yet returned to skate in the Olympics and win the bronze in the 1500m right behind his teammate, the great Apolo Ohno who, by the way, fought depression and self doubt to become the first US Winter Olympian to win 7 medals!

As I watch these people compete, I marvel at their total commitment to condition themselves to be able to overcome any adversity that befalls them whether it is injury, illness or personal tragedy. They are able to discipline themselves to withstand bitter cold, endure excruciating pain, and excel in horrible conditions. When they win, they express their joy in a triumphant yet humble manner while congratulating their co-competitors (the one who lost) with sincere best wishes. When they lose, they exhibit the same humble manner and joy as they congratulate the competitor who beat them.

Seems to me that they are just like the rest of us - they just want to be the best they can be at what they choose to do. The simple truth is that the difference between them and us is that they choose to do it. They choose to endure hardship, despair, devastation, and personal loss and then to move forward - not backwards to achieve their goals. Maybe a lesson we can all draw from when the going gets tough!

KB