The Agony of Defeat or the Courage to Carry on
By: Nancy Howard,
SparkPeople Blogger
9/13/2008 12:00 PM
: 34 comments
As many of us watched the 2008 Beijing Olympics from the safety and comfort of our homes, we witnessed several of the world’s top athletes succumb to injuries or deliver performances far from what the world expected. These athletes, many of whom spent thousands of hours training to reach this pinnacle, were forced to face these obstacles head-on while we were all left wondering how they had the courage to carry on.
Seeing Michael Phelps win his record-breaking eight gold medals or the women’s volleyball team of Misty May-Traenor and Kerri Welsh take home yet another gold medal was phenomenal. But many times I think we often overlook the athletes who entered these games with great potential only to go home empty-handed.
While watching the women’s marathon, I was saddened to see U.S. runner Deena Kastor’s injury only 16 minutes into the event after her many years of diligent preparation. Then I watched British marathoner Paula Radcliffe, in all her glory, slowly fall farther and farther behind. She was determined to finish that race regardless of the pain we could all see on her face. Even Tyson Gay, the great American sprinter, was plagued with a hamstring injury, but yet he still put forth his best effort in the Men’s 100 meter preliminaries.
I bring this up because these athletes, like many of us, have their eyes set on a goal; a goal to go out and do their best and in the end hope they come out on top. However, when adversity stood in their way, they still gave it their all. A lesson we could all learn from while on our own personal journey.
For me, focusing too much on the destination and not enough on the journey does not allow me to embrace the place where I am today. There are many days in life that are easier than others. When I fall short of my goal, or worse never meet my expected goal, is when I learn more about this process we call living. Knowing that the struggle is what makes me who I am today is what allows me to keeping on reaching for that brass ring.
So when you feel you have done everything that you could to reach your goal and something unexpected arises, appreciate the knowledge that all your hard work is not lost or tossed to the wind. It takes courage and fortitude that each and every one of us possesses that will eventually get us through life's obstacles to meet our goals.
Seeing Michael Phelps win his record-breaking eight gold medals or the women’s volleyball team of Misty May-Traenor and Kerri Welsh take home yet another gold medal was phenomenal. But many times I think we often overlook the athletes who entered these games with great potential only to go home empty-handed.
While watching the women’s marathon, I was saddened to see U.S. runner Deena Kastor’s injury only 16 minutes into the event after her many years of diligent preparation. Then I watched British marathoner Paula Radcliffe, in all her glory, slowly fall farther and farther behind. She was determined to finish that race regardless of the pain we could all see on her face. Even Tyson Gay, the great American sprinter, was plagued with a hamstring injury, but yet he still put forth his best effort in the Men’s 100 meter preliminaries.
I bring this up because these athletes, like many of us, have their eyes set on a goal; a goal to go out and do their best and in the end hope they come out on top. However, when adversity stood in their way, they still gave it their all. A lesson we could all learn from while on our own personal journey.
For me, focusing too much on the destination and not enough on the journey does not allow me to embrace the place where I am today. There are many days in life that are easier than others. When I fall short of my goal, or worse never meet my expected goal, is when I learn more about this process we call living. Knowing that the struggle is what makes me who I am today is what allows me to keeping on reaching for that brass ring.
So when you feel you have done everything that you could to reach your goal and something unexpected arises, appreciate the knowledge that all your hard work is not lost or tossed to the wind. It takes courage and fortitude that each and every one of us possesses that will eventually get us through life's obstacles to meet our goals.
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Comments
- 2/24/2010 11:23:37 AM
Thanks - 9/14/2008 9:42:28 AM
I have a lot of respect for EACH of these people for reaching the goal of olympic competition - as well as the THOUSANDS out there who didn't qualify. They still work hard to maybe reach that goal on the next try. - 9/14/2008 9:03:03 AM
Thanks for the great blog! - 9/14/2008 8:53:14 AM
pj - 9/14/2008 6:54:00 AM
Compeitive atheletes are always performing at the edge of injury. They push themselves just as far as can possibly be done; while we who lead civillian lives and enjoy sports for our health and well-being need to be concerned about things like over-training.
I am exercising for weight loss, and I just learned in a group of Sparkpeople articles the symptoms of overtraining, and what to do about it. Worst of all, I learned of its association with the dreaded "P" word.....PLATEAU!
I do not need or want to continue sports performance beyond the ever-increasing endurance of my body. I am not a professional athelete. And though I think the point about getting there being the most important part of the journey is well taken, I think that the analogy with Olympian atheletes performing in spite of serious injuries to not be applicable in this context. - 9/13/2008 11:57:07 PM
with whatever we do. Being older now I wish I had kept that in mind all the time. - 9/13/2008 7:42:54 PM
Peace and Blessing! - 9/13/2008 12:30:20 PM
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