US Olympic swimmer Simone Manuel recently shared that she had to let her body recover after being diagnosed with overtraining syndrome in her preparation for the US Olympic Trials. Her body was fatigued, and she suffered from depression. She was forced to rest for three weeks – which is an eternity for this exceptional athlete – during which time she knew her competition was training. Yet, she yielded and did what was necessary. Early in the trials, she experienced disappointment when she didn’t qualify for the US Olympic swimming team in the 100 freestyle, her signature event. Later that week, she earned a spot on the team in the 50M freestyle. As frustrating and discouraging as injuries and setbacks are, working through it and having the optimism that the goal will be achieved builds the character of a champion. Avoiding negative self-talk and rhetoric – “why did this happen?” or “why me?” – and replacing these thoughts with “what can I now do differently or how can I learn from this experience?” is key. PATIENCE IN THE TIMING FOR ACHIEVING OUR GOAL. Things may not always unfold when we think they should. Flora Duffy, achieved a gold medal in her fourth Olympic Games, and part of that journey included a cycle crash in the 2012 Olympic Games. In these disappointing and soul-defeating moments, as athletes, we have a choice to either let the challenge consume us and give-up, or trust in the timing of the journey. In those moments, we may not be receptive to the saying “all in good time” but we must dig deep within ourselves to know that it will happen, just perhaps not quite when we had hoped or planned.
refocus and avoid wasting time individually and collectively on what could or should have been done. Instead, leverage the energy of everyone involved to motivate and identify new strategies and the support to implement them. PATIENCE AND HUMILITY TO KEEP THE GOAL AS IS BUT ADJUST THE TIMING. Believe in yourself. Adjustments are often made by course correcting the training, not the end goal. As athletes, our minds are fixated on the timing of the goal. We may know intellectually that growth and development often don’t occur in a straight line but often it doesn’t feel that way. Use the verbal feedback from coaches and peers and/or the results as fuel to course correct and refocus. PATIENCE AS PART OF YOUR STRATEGY. To be the best you can be and possibly reach the top of the podium, patience is a key part of your strategy. Mastering the art of patience allows athletes to develop an edge – to remain calm, to keep their eye on the end goal. It can make the difference in your confidence, and it can prove unsettling to your competition. One of my favorite sayings is “everything is as it should be”. If we believe and trust that when we do what’s within our control and let go of what isn’t, the accolades and achievements will come. Embrace the journey for both the experiences and the celebrations that follow. Do the work, believe in yourself, and have the patience and maintain the belief that success will follow.
PATIENCE IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH TEAM MEMBERS AND COACHES. The coach and athlete must have confidence in one another because occasionally, tough choices will be made with respect to training or practice. The risk is that if the desired results don’t happen, we may default to self-criticism or doubt in others. In team sports, when the outcome isn’t ideal, the tendency is to blame teammates who we perceive have fallen short or contributed to a loss. It is more important to reflect, adjust and 2021 | Bermuda Sports Journal
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