How to be an Olympian Without Actually Being One.
A Guide
Photo: Frans van Heerden
I am sitting in the tyre repair shop writing this being slightly distracted by the background noise of the replay of the swimming at the Paris Olympics, trying not to cry in front of the truckers and the tradies - I am such a sook and cry for the happy and the sad.
Every two years - Winter and Summer - we get to witness the culmination of years of an individual’s dedication to a sport that elicits much blood sweat and tears on the way to a potential podium. I know that this spectacle is not for everyone. I am not here to debate money spent, priorities or the fanfare when there are wars going on in the world, but to make observation, and garner insight about perseverance and the human spirit.
As armchair spectators we watch in awe, we jump for joy, as a Nation, we are right behind them. We hold our breaths, and we cry ( well some of us do) with them as we witness unbridled rawness of emotion at the finish line. Sometimes the difference between a gold and nothing could be down to 100ths of a second. So we also cry for the heartbreak and disappointments. Many go in knowing that they will not podium. On the outside they look contained. The battle to get to this point is as much, if not more, about what goes on inside, as it does executing the physical performance. There is an occasional story of the impossible.
Some athletes are seemingly superhumans - freakishly built through a confluence of genetic blessings that give them a competitive edge - muscle composition, flexibility, wide arm spans, neurological factors - the prototype of a spec-built athlete. A human machine. With the added benefits of sports science, training, diet, mental preparation, the absolute best performance can be extrapolated. They have coaches and trainers, nutritionists, and other support crew ... because this is not a solo venture.
I love watching the human body move. I am also completely captivated by the mind of an athlete.
The discipline required to reach their level of competence;
How to keep your cool and perform in front of a roaring crowd and television cameras in your face streaming to a couple of million watching from their lounge rooms - not sure any training environment can prepare you for that;
How you can be both friend and rival, supporting each other, yet in competition with;
The cultivation of a mental fortitude for the personal mind games, expectations and constant striving to be the best, to keep finding more when the tank is empty or coping strategies when injury strikes...or a fellow athlete is just...better;
How to tame the beast of disappointment.
As a yoga teacher I spend my days observing bodies. I give adjustments and articulate how to make the geometry of a body more efficient for function, for ease, for awareness. We put our brains in our bodies to become familiar with our own tendencies, asking where can we make our bodies more structurally sound, build more strength, be more focused, align all the parts of our self so that the body works synergistically with all of its parts, that include the mind and the heart.
We pay attention and we review, because if we stay where we are, we stay where we are.
Nothing changes.
We continue to refine so we become more resilient, robust, and vital, mitigating struggle and become more contented with ourselves.
How many steps I do has nothing to do with making a podium, but how I want to live. My end goal is not a gold medal, it is functionality and longevity. My choices are informed by taking note of how I feel and what do I need that day - more movement or more rest? More stretch or more strength? Am I asking too much of myself today or not enough?
The goal is for pain free mobility, function, balance, strength, joint health, mental resilience.
I am no athlete. My body doesn't function the way it used to 20 years ago. But in some way it functions better. Because in my wisdom, I offer it patience and grace. I have learnt how not to strive so much, to not push it beyond its limits.
How can us mere mortals emulate even a morsel of an Olympians grit and endurance? After all, we are engaged in one of the toughest challenges of all
the Marathon of Life
So I look to our friends in Paris for some guidance in how to proceed:
Have a strategy, pace yourself, know when it’s time to conserve your energy and when its time to say “LFG” ;
Harness your nerves as a source of energy, rather than letting them hold you back or, even worse, cause you to stagnate;
Take time out, make use of injury time to rest, recover and build strength elsewhere;
Hone your attention & focus on things that are important to you. Keep external distractions to a minimum - after all, the 200m Freestyle swimmers don’t focus on track and field.
Looking after ourselves isn’t always pretty. It’s hard to show up for yourself on the days that it is cold and raining, when your head is thumping, have had minimal sleep, or are having a sad day. Show up even when you don’t want to -consistency and discipline are key for motivation, sustainability & success.
Keep reviewing the process without getting stuck in the story - use the information to refine and sharpen your skills, upgrade your nutrition, work on your mobility, strength, balance.
Prepare for disappointment - get a handle on the fact that sometimes your day will absolutely suck;
Managing your nervous system takes a whole bundle of techniques from breathing, visualisation, mindset, acceptance and compassion - have a toolbox to rely on;
Accept where you are - work with the body you have and through this acceptance find kindness and compassion;
While we are all running our own race, just like an Olympian, we don’t get where we are without we our support crew - have you got yours?
Here’s an idea:
Do your Olympic training today -
Do your physical training - go for a walk. No need for fancy clothes, or to break an Olympic record, just get outside…because you can - so many mental emotional and physical benefits compound with this simple act over time;
Up your hydration - Drink some water to keep your hydration at a level where your cells can do their thing of keeping you functioning well;
Nurture your Mental Health - Get outside into the sun and take a few deep breaths for 2 minutes….no sun? Do it anyway.
Focus on your Nutrition - Don’t eat crap. Just for one day. No chocolate, Chips, packaged food;
Connect in with your Team - Talk to a friend, a mentor, a coach, a therapist. We are all in this together.
In the end, we are all human.
Human-ing is hard. There are highs and lows. Some people choose to race and compete everyday for their life’s work.
Being in this world takes as much focus and dedication to ourselves as any athlete - our goal is to dial down the Olympic expectations & intensity.
Focus on the process- the outcome may not come with a gold medal attached, but we will feel sustained joy being in this world, if we prep everyday just like an athlete, focusing on our physical, metal and emotional wellbeing.
So, how to be an Olympian, without actually being one?
Congratulations.
If you are here, you have already won Gold…or at the very least a participation certificate.
Go Team!
Love Mon
x
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