Getting Back in the Saddle
Oct 23, 2021
Starting Over
The Olympics have come and gone, and soon there will be another set of Olympic Games. In many sports and for many athletes there's this huge push to make it to the Olympics, yet so few athletes are actually able to live out the dream.
What about the athletes who don't make it? The hard part is getting over that, building for the future and maybe the next Olympics after suffering such a letdown. What can you tell a young athlete who was so set on going to the Olympics this time and how to stay focused for another bid four years down the road?
The answer: Looking back at a performance, especially when you underachieve relative to personal expectations, is difficult. However, if you look at it objectively (as much as possible) and ask yourself a few simple questions, it’s easier to learn from the experience and carry on. Often, high performance athletes are very demanding of themselves, and have high personal expectations. In one way, this personality trait is what allows an athlete to achieve, but it can also be what drives athletes to never be satisfied with accomplishments. This leads one to look back on a performance and recognize the deficiencies rather than look at the positives. Getting an accurate inventory of the positives and areas for improvement is critical to a positive mindset and the continued pursuit of athletic dreams.
So take an inventory of what happened, what you need to continue to do, and what needs to change by using this simple template – take time to think about your answers and write them down:-
1. What 2 things did I do really well in terms my preparation, training, and performance leading up to the selection?
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2. If I want to take another crack at selection, how can I improve on the items identified above? Be specific and clear.
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3. If I were to redo the past 3-4 years leading up to selection, what 1 thing would I do differently and how? Be specific and clear.
By taking this approach, you objectively (as much as possible) look at your performance and preparation, and give yourself an idea of what was and what is needed. This limits the unnecessary and negative talk (i.e., beating yourself up for not making it) and brings the focus back to what you can do (i.e., what’s within your control). Once you’ve gone through the ‘inventory’ process above, the next step is to be clear with yourself as to what you are willing to sacrifice, give up, and how much time (and perhaps money) you are willing to dedicate to the pursuit of your Olympic dream.
Take a look at what is required of you from a physical, mental, emotional, and financial perspective, and also what needs to be put on hold for another 4 years. Create a list. After identifying these areas, ask yourself (and answer honestly) what you are willing to do and what you are not willing to do. Then look at what you are willing to do – is that enough to get you to the Olympics (and potentially on the podium)? If so, be sure that you are doing it for the pure love of your sport and the intrinsic rewards of high-performance sport and that you are doing it without any guarantees of making it. Now GO!