You don’t have to be headed to London this
summer to have an Olympic-size dream. Whether it's running your first 5K or making
the field hockey, going after big goals takes tonsa hard work—and plenty of
guts—before you get that glory. Here, four Olympians share the lessons they've
learned on their way to the top.
Set Small Goals
You dream of playing professional beach
volleyball just like your hero Kerri Walsh. But as of now, your serves are
subpar and your digs are just decent. Before ya bury your head in the sand,
think small. “I set mini goals that build to a big one,” explains Kayla
Harrison, 22, a world champion in judo. “Like, I want to be the first American
Olympic champion for judo. But first, I have to be ranked in the top 14 in the
world. And to do that, I have to train a certain amount of time a day.”
Achieving the small goals gives you motivation as you build to your ultimate
dream.
Seek Support
Whatever major thing you're gunning for,
don't go at it alone. “My teammates are my friends and I look forward to seeing
them each morning and night,” says star swimmer and world record holder Missy
Franklin, 17. “We always support each other through the very tough sets.” If
you don't have teammates to lean on, share your aspirations with a supportive
bud or family member. “My best friend Katie made me a pump up playlist before a
big competition, plus another one with pick-me-up songs in the event that I
didn't do as well as I hoped,” says Kayla. “It's really helpful to know she's
there for me no matter what.”
Stick With It
Everyone has blah days—even top athletes.
Just ask 2008 gold medalist gymnast Nastia Liukin, who draws on her mom's
advice when things are off. “She's always said, 'Never quit on a bad day.' You
may make mistakes and want to give up, but you've got to go back out there and
try again.” Nastia confesses there have been days when she didn’t want to head
to the gym for a seven-hour workout. “The days when you're feeling your worst
and you have to drag yourself off the couch are the ones that make you stronger
in the end,” she says. “They're what makes you a champion.”
Failure Is Your Fuel
We admit it: Setbacks suck, especially after
you're thisclose to success. But instead of letting failure smash your spirit,
use it to boost ya up. “When I was 13, I was about to compete at my first
Junior World Championships when I snapped the ligament and broke bones in my
thumb. I couldn't compete and I was devastated. I thought my career was over,”
says Kayla. But instead of getting hung up on the injury, Kayla let it fuel her
motivational fires. Once her thumb healed, Kayla worked harder than ever to
return to the World Champs. Four years later? She won!
Enjoy the Moment
Yep, it's awesome to achieve something major
in your life. But what's the point if you're not having any fun? When Missy
traveled to China for the World Championships last year, she made a point to
enjoy every second of the experience instead of fretting over her flip turns.
“This helped me relax and manage the pressures of the meet, and I was able to
contribute five medals to Team USA.” It's key to have a good time while you're
at it. That way, all of that hard work doesn't have to feel like, well, work.
Keep Calm
There's a reason you hardly ever see a
champion lose her cool. What truly separates a winner from the rest of the
field is her ability to stay composed in every sitch. “It’s intimidating at
international meets,” says Missy. “But when the time comes to perform, I know
I’ve done the work necessary. It all comes down to confidence and faith in my
abilities.” To calm her nerves, 17 year-old elite diver Jessica Parratto sits
in a quiet place, listens to music and visualizes her dives. “I think back to
practices when I nailed the dives, and that gives me the confidence boost I
need.” When you're feeling stressed, find a spot to relax, breathe and think
about the task before ya to keep those nervous butterflies at bay.
Inspire Yourself
Surround yourself with words and pics that’ll
keep you working every day. “I write out my goals and my favorite quotes on my
mirror with dry erase marker. I also have an inspiration board in my room,”
says Nastia. “Before the Beijing Games in '08, I put pictures of the gold,
silver and bronze Olympic medals on the board. Seeing them every day was a
great reminder of why I was training so hard—and I wound up winning one of
each.” Hang up kick-butt quotes and
pictures. You'll be more driven than ever to go for the gold!
BY SARAH WASSNER FLYNN ON 7/19/2012 1:43:00 PM
POSTED IN athlete, olympics, London 2012, June/July 2012