| The Olympics represent the pinnacle of success for | | | | coming last in the short-track speed-skating when all |
| the majority of sports in the world. Athletes dedicate | | | | 4 competitors in front of him tripped and got |
| themselves to representing their country in a | | | | entangled with each other opening up the way for |
| competition held only once every four years. What | | | | Bradbury to skate through to a Gold Medal. |
| can anyone learn from these athletes about what it | | | | In 2006 Lindsey Jacobellis of the Unites States had a |
| takes to succeed in any area of life? | | | | clear lead in the snowboard cross and went for a |
| 1. Believe in your Dreams - many athletes defy the | | | | twisting grab in the air of her board - this caused her |
| odds and overcome adversity to realise their dream | | | | to crash and Swiss Tanja Frieden passed her by. |
| of becoming an Olympian. Many were told they didn't | | | | Lesson: Keep going right through to the end because |
| have what it takes. For many, if they had decided to | | | | you never know what opportunity falls your way. |
| 'be real' with their goals then they would never have | | | | 5. Winning is in the process - successful athletes |
| dared to imagine competing in the Olympics. Some | | | | focus on the process because they know that is |
| dreams stopped at becoming an Olympian, some | | | | how the game is won. |
| dreamed of being a Gold Medalist. | | | | When Australian Torah Bright prepared for her |
| Take Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong, nicknamed the | | | | second run, she needed to perform after crashing in |
| Snow Leopard, representing Ghana in the Alpine | | | | her first run. Standing at the top, Torah appeared to |
| Skiing. An unlikely participant, having taken up the | | | | be relaxed and mentally prepared for her run. She |
| sport just 5 years ago, learning to ski at an indoor | | | | knew what she had to do, and set out to do what |
| centre in Scotland. One of the slowest down the | | | | she had practiced over and over again The outcome |
| mountain, Kwame is creating success in his own way | | | | was a Gold medal. |
| and gaining recognition for it. | | | | Lesson: Success is about doing what you love and |
| Lesson: Never let anyone stop you from dreaming | | | | loving the process. Let go of the need for a particular |
| B.I.G. - Bold Inspiring Goals. Put a goal out there and | | | | outcome boosts your chance of realizing your goal. |
| commit to it and you will find a way to make it | | | | 6. Weigh up the Risks - many Winter Olympics |
| happen. | | | | events have scoring with points won/loss on degree |
| 2. Courage - there are many examples of courage | | | | of difficulty. Athletes know there are times to play |
| through the Winter Olympics with so many of the | | | | safe and there are times to take risks. Someone |
| sports posing risk to life and limb. Many athletes | | | | might need to land a jump in order to qualify, or to |
| competing report having recovered from broken | | | | stay on their feet to finish a race. When it comes to |
| bones, concussion and sprains - and yet here they | | | | the final rounds, athletes are going for their most |
| are, undeterred, keeping the end in mind. Their | | | | difficult tricks and attacking their race in order to be |
| greatest competition is within themselves winning the | | | | the best. Not everyone succeeds when they dare to |
| mental game it takes to perform at such a high level. | | | | risk, but better to have gone for it and create the |
| Consider the luge competitors, competing on a track | | | | opportunity to win, then to play safe and never |
| just days after the death of Georgian luger Nodar | | | | know what could have been possible. |
| Kumaritashvili; Canadian Ice skater Joannie Rochette | | | | In claiming Austria's first Alpine gold medal for the |
| having the courage to take the ice and win the | | | | 2010 Winter Olympics, Andrea Fischbacher claimed |
| Bronze medal just days after the death of her | | | | that she 'attacked from start to finish' and it was |
| mother. | | | | thought that favourite Lindsay Vonn skied too |
| Lesson: Find the courage to face your fears and do it | | | | conservatively and was relegated to third. |
| anyway. | | | | Lesson: There will be times you will need to risk failing |
| 3. Resilience - athletes suffer setbacks at one point in | | | | in order to succeed. The higher the prize, the higher |
| their lives, and they get back up again. Some are | | | | the risk you will need to take. |
| competing at their 2nd or 3rd Olympics, desiring to | | | | 7. Celebrate - you always see the Gold Medalist |
| emulate and/or improve on past performance. | | | | celebrating their win, they are at the top. There is |
| Slovenian cross-country skier Petra Majdic fell three | | | | mixed celebration from those who come 2nd, 3rd |
| metres down an embankment in training, breaking | | | | and those who don't medal. The one who |
| four ribs. She didn't let this stop her and pushed | | | | acknowledges what they have achieved, rather than |
| through 3 qualifying races to make the finals and to | | | | what they have not, are the most satisfied and |
| then win Bronze. Remarkable! | | | | fulfilled. Knowing that you have given it your all and |
| Lesson: There will be obstacles in your way as you | | | | have done your best in the moment, it's now time to |
| seek out your own success. How much do you want | | | | celebrate your achievement. |
| it? What are you prepared to endure to win your | | | | Lesson: Be grateful for what you have achieved |
| prize? | | | | knowing that this is a stepping stone to even greater |
| 4. It's not over 'til it's over - athletes show that you | | | | things. |
| have to keep going until the end and finish strong. In | | | | Olympians have an amazing quality of mindset that |
| skiing and snow-boarding events anything can happen | | | | enables them to achieve high level of success that |
| with crashes and slip-ups. Those who hang-on can still | | | | can help them beyond sport. Tap into what it takes |
| have a chance to win. | | | | to be the best and you can achieve too. |
| Back in 2002 Australia's Stephen Bradbury was | | | | |