After Michael Phelps came in fourth in his first race the first Saturday of the Olympics, I was all set to write an Insight about it. However, I deliberately delayed to see what happened as he swam more events. I’m glad that I did. From today’s perspective, I see his Olympics differently.
In an interview, Michael said that he had tightened up during that first race. When asked about the silver that he received in the second race, he said that he had gotten sloppy recently about finishing his practice swims, and it showed up there.
He gave a realistic assessment with no excuses. He said that he had set goals for this Olympics and that he had achieved them. One of his goals was to have fun. After his intense Olympics in Bejing where he won eight gold medals, that was understandable. He came out of Bejing on such a high that he fell into a deep depression. He wanted his London experience to be balanced.
He also wanted to go out on top. For that reason, he was unswerving in his statement that this was his last Olympics. “Your mother says she wants to go to Rio,” mentioned an interviewer.
“I told her that we can go to Rio in four years,” Phelps replied, “but I’ll be in the stands, not in the pool.”
He also wanted to set an example for younger swimmers. After watching Michael and Alison win their races, fifteen-year-old Olympian Katie Ledecky won the 1500 meter race, one that no one thought she would win. “You emulate and follow the best,” she commented.
Winning and success are a result of preparing and going out and doing a good job every time. You don’t prepare to win. You prepare to do well every time. Of his first swim, Michael noted, “I did the preparation that I did, and I got the results that I deserved for that preparation.”
I loved Michael’s refreshing honesty. We can all learn from his example of setting goals, preparing to do well, having fun, and setting an example. Most importantly, we can learn to maintain our focus. It will help us reach our goals. Once we have reached our goals, set new ones. Be ready to move from the pool to the stands and keep our energies flowing.
In an interview, Michael said that he had tightened up during that first race. When asked about the silver that he received in the second race, he said that he had gotten sloppy recently about finishing his practice swims, and it showed up there.
He gave a realistic assessment with no excuses. He said that he had set goals for this Olympics and that he had achieved them. One of his goals was to have fun. After his intense Olympics in Bejing where he won eight gold medals, that was understandable. He came out of Bejing on such a high that he fell into a deep depression. He wanted his London experience to be balanced.
He also wanted to go out on top. For that reason, he was unswerving in his statement that this was his last Olympics. “Your mother says she wants to go to Rio,” mentioned an interviewer.
“I told her that we can go to Rio in four years,” Phelps replied, “but I’ll be in the stands, not in the pool.”
He also wanted to set an example for younger swimmers. After watching Michael and Alison win their races, fifteen-year-old Olympian Katie Ledecky won the 1500 meter race, one that no one thought she would win. “You emulate and follow the best,” she commented.
Winning and success are a result of preparing and going out and doing a good job every time. You don’t prepare to win. You prepare to do well every time. Of his first swim, Michael noted, “I did the preparation that I did, and I got the results that I deserved for that preparation.”
I loved Michael’s refreshing honesty. We can all learn from his example of setting goals, preparing to do well, having fun, and setting an example. Most importantly, we can learn to maintain our focus. It will help us reach our goals. Once we have reached our goals, set new ones. Be ready to move from the pool to the stands and keep our energies flowing.
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