At a camp for aspiring skaters, World and Olympic coach Audrey Weisiger discusses what it takes to be an Olympian. She begins by sharing a slide that says, “What would you be willing to do if you knew you could not fail?” The subheading on this slide is, “Greatness comes to those who develop a burning desire to achieve high goals.” She then notes that even with goals and hard work, there’s no guarantee in life. She tells these advanced skaters, “You like skating because it’s risky and it’s hard. And if you can accept that and deal with it you’re going to enjoy your career. But if you want that perfect experience every single moment of your life… you’re not going to make it. You have to have this attitude (I’m going to be this good) but also accept that sometimes it doesn’t go that way.”
Audrey then shares a list of characteristics of an Olympic level competitor.
- Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is.
- Olympic athletes embrace conflict for growth.
- Olympic athletes are held accountable on so many levels.
- Olympic athletes are learning machines.
- Olympic champions know very good is bad.
- Olympic athletes make “do-or-die” commitments.
- Olympic athletes are consistently great.
- Olympians are coachable.
- Olympians compartmentalize their emotions.
- Olympians think big.
The underlying themes here are to prepare in every way possible to take advantage of opportunities that may come up (“Get ready, just in case it’s your chance”), how Olympians are looked up to as superior people (not just athletes), how Olympians embrace challenges (skaters like the challenge provided by our sport), how Olympians have such high standards that “good” is the enemy of “great,” and how champions have to let go of emotional distress (“Let it go and keep going and have a good attitude”).
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