When Michael Phelps began breaking the gold medal record for the 2008 Olympics, he gave everyone an education in perseverance. Michael probably practiced swimming hundreds of laps to gain the stamina and experience necessary to succeed. Something had to come from within to inspire him to diligently swim at a high level every time he jumped into a pool. Winning can lead to winning when there is an expectation of success. It’s clear that Michael Phelps hopes to dominate the field of swimmers every time he dives into a pool. You don’t look left or right to see your competitors, you always look ahead. Michael’s goal is right in front of him and he is steadfast in his desire to collect as many gold medals as he can.
Olympians learn to pay attention to the details that are important to winning. They never take a day off from practice. They understand that there are hundreds of other athletes who are practicing eight to twelve hours a day to try to get an advantage during their next competition. A slight movement in a body position while in the water can determine how fast a swimmer can increase their speed.
There is a great lesson to be learned from the Olympians. It is important for personal growth. Olympic athletes who win gold medals learn to master their fears. They understand that fear is “false evidence that seems real.” They spend a lot of time contemplating in their mind first how they will overcome their fears. Giving in to fear can affect a person’s physical and mental health. Olympic athletes often go to doctors to report pain they cannot explain. Continual fear can result in stress that takes away confidence in any of life’s endeavors.
A great strategy athletes use is to remove the limits from their thinking life. They know that past failures can serve as a marker to identify a new method to achieve their goal. Olympians accept challenges as reality. It’s amazing how they wait four years to perform at one or more events. It takes real determination and continuous competition around the world to measure the abilities of an Olympic athlete. Olympians must have nerves of steel to overcome any anxiety they experience when they are ready to start any event. Olympic athletes participate in competition in a world where a tenth of a second makes the difference between a gold medal and a silver medal.
People who participate in the Olympics teach students of all ages the value of perseverance. Many of the fears students have are based on past challenges in life’s classroom. Always be ready to get up and prepare for the next challenge. Michael Phelps is an example of approaching each learning experience with enthusiasm and enthusiasm for its potential accomplishments. Every day is an opportunity to get one step closer to your goal. Like the elite athlete, you can go for the gold if you practice and persist.
