CoachCherri.com – The Transition Coach

” Champions aren’t made in the gyms.  Champions are made from something they have deep inside them¾a desire, a dream, a vision.”

-Muhammad Ali

I haven’t been an avid watcher of the 2008 Olympic Games but the swim matches have caught my attention a little.  Much as of the hype has been on twenty-three year old Michael Phelps’ 8^th gold medal history making wins, who  was diagnosed as a child with ADD (attention deficient disorder), according to a recent interview on Good Morning America with his mother.  Most of these athlete’s have a mountain moving story of obstacles they had to overcome to reach their goals. 

 Take for instance Dara Torres, whom the media keeps repeatedly emphasizing that she is forty-old years old, the oldest swimmer to compete and qualify for the Games.   I loved it when she made the statement, “the water doesn’t know how old you are“.  Torres had to have surgery to remove a bone spur that caused a partial rotator tear in her right shoulder.  Although she had to miss four weeks of training, it was said that she didn’t miss a beat during the Olympic trials.  

 A true Champion is defined as a valiant fighte, who understands the Universal Law of Cause and Effect.  This law generally means that you reap what you sow by putting in time, energy, and effort over and over again until you inevitably enjoy the results and rewards.  It doesn’t come with a disclaimer: give up at the first sign of injury, disappointment, defeat, fear.  It simply means give it all you GOT and SOME. 

 The CHAMP and the CHUMP

 Let me compare a few qualities of these two characters famously made by San Jose State College’s sprint coach Bud Winter, in his book titled ” So You Want To Be A Sprinter”.

 The “CHAMP” has the WILL TO SUCCEED.

• Follows a goal oriented training plan.
• Accepts pre game nerves but keeps anxiety and worry to a minimum.
• Focuses on personal goals without letting distractions of what others are saying or doing.
• Shows poise and courage in a crisis.

 The “CHUMP” has the WILL TO FAIL.

• Fails to prepare themselves/and or equipment properly for competition.
• Gets injured or ill regularly especially just prior to the competition.
• Expects times to “just come” or come easily because ” I’ve been doing the training.
• Never trains or practice drills unless the conditions are perfect.

 Choose which character you want to emulate as you go after whatever it is you desire. Should you decide to be a gold medal winner, take note of their body language: feet firmly planted, body erect, shoulders back, head up, smiling, eyes aglow and one or both arms thrust triumphantly in the air.  Now is not the time to look timid.  Go for the Gold…Act like a Gold Medal Champion.