The Olympics are a time of celebrating the accomplishments of individual athletes and teams of athletes from all around the world. They put in a tremendous amount of dedication toward their craft, and many do so already knowing that the podium is most likely out of reach. It is truly inspirational to see them succeed, but for some reason, I always feel bad about myself while watching the games.
I always think, "Damn I'm sitting here watching this and eating leftover cupcakes while that 15-year-old girl from Russia is crushing it." Last night, during the newest slope-style event, I sat there telling Ellie that I could totally do that . . . knowing full well it wasn't true. What is most depressing is that, at 25 years old, I would be considered middle-aged in terms of Olympians. Ugh.
I understand that I had different priorities growing up: I wasn't dedicated to training. I didn't wake up at 4:00 a.m. to head to the rink. And I sure as hell didn't go out of my way to do extra physical activity. Instead, I honed my cyber-athlete reflexes in Counter Strike and WoW. And I wasn't half-bad at either of those, if I do say so myself. But I still feel pangs of guilt at not going all-out and not dedicating more time to sports.
As I beat myself up over it last night, I realized that the only things truly separating myself, or any of us, from the Olympians competing in Sochi is time investment and drive. I am a firm believer that anyone can achieve a stellar level of physical fitness, given enough time and dedication. Knowing a bit of the genetics behind what makes us human, I know that a practically negligible amount of DNA truly separates us as individuals. It is why anyone can go from the couch to running a 5K, or even to running a Marathon, for that matter. Given enough effort, everyone can achieve what they set out to do.
Really, it comes down to where your priorities fall. I've made fitness more of a top priority for myself over the past two years, and many of you have as well. But recently it has fallen down in the rankings for various reasons. I suppose I should thank the Olympics for getting me me to reevaluate where I stand and to try—once again—to elevate fitness to the top of my list. Damn that 15-year-old Russian girl for making me feel guilty.
Good post! Begin again, and tie your beginnings together from the beginning of time; before long, you’re a practitioner.
Look up to the 15 year old Russian figure skater, and all of the athletes for that matter for renewed inspiration! For most of us its not about being the best in the world – its about finding the best in ourselves.
Whoa, AScott. That got real. Very true, though. I know I lose sight of things and get down on myself because, for example, I didn’t join the cross-country team or swim team in high school and think about what could have been if I had. But I have to remember that, even though I didn’t run or swim then, at least I’m running and swimming now and have proven to myself that I can do it and can keep pushing beyond my goals!
You are out of your got-danged MAIIIIIIIIND if you think “anyone can work hard enough to be an Olympian.” You might get good, but you don’t get to that level with JUST hard work. There are what, 1000 Olympians in each season’s games? How many people do you think put in as much work as them to train? I GUARANTEE it’s more than 1.6666666666666666666666666666667e-7% of the earth’s population.
Probably also need to have all the resources at your disposal too, but I believe anyone can achieve it
Agreed! If we all could quit our jobs and had all kinds of money and could move to mountainous places and could ski all day (or what have you), I think there would be nothing physically stopping us from achieving Olympian-like athleticism. Granted, there are those with physical limitations (such as amputees) that might keep them from pulling tricks like Shaun White, but watching the Paralympic Games, it’s clear that they, too, train as Olympians and pull off some badass tricks of their own.
It’s more about motivation and dedication. Like, are you willing to wake up at 4:00 a.m. to go slap on your frigging giant skis and jump off a ramp at 80 mph because that’s the only opportunity in your day you have to do it? Are you willing to eat as healthy as humanly possible to get the most out of your nutrition (ignoring that one snowboarder who eats a ton of pizza and still won gold)? I envy their dedication. I just like sleeping and eating cupcakes way too much.