The Olympics are seen as the ultimate event for athletes. It is the race where we all want to be at our best. Sometimes we even make it so important that it feels like our life is on the line.
I realise that each athlete has a different reason for wanting to participate at the Olympics, or any event for that matter. For some athletes it’s about winning a medal. For others success in sport it’s about the experience, representing your country or club, overcoming challenges or to make a childhood dream come true. We’re all chasing something unique.
Defining Success In Sport
Reflecting on my journey towards the Paris Olympics turned out to be more difficult than I thought.
I’ve been to four Olympics Games, with my best result in Tokyo (4th place) and yet each Olympic Games and the journey towards it, has been totally different with its own new challenges.
Just like life, I’ve had times I loved what I do and (trying to put this nicely) times I thought I’d rather be doing something else.
Over time I’ve learned that the true value of the Olympics lies in the journey. There are so many things part of this journey. We meet new people from all over the world, put years of preparation into one event, deal with setbacks but also celebrate the small victories we make ourself.
It's Not Always About Medals
It took me several years to realise that success in sport for me, isn’t anymore only defined by medals.
Like athletes all chase their own goals, success is also personal and can be reached in many ways.
Although I have often been very focused on my end result and felt frustrated by it, in the end, success at the Paris Olympics was more than my result.
During my preparation I had to deal with setbacks and there were many moments I questioned myself if I would ever be able to get back to the highest level of racing. After being diagnosed with a hamstring injury, I still set myself the goal to qualify for my fourth Olympic Games.
There were times of other injuries, times I celebrated victories, times I gave up and times I felt strong.
Like any other athlete, I dealt with lots of ups and downs throughout my athletic career. It has become clear to me that success is not as black and white as it seems.
When I was young I thought it was all about winning races, but now I get older I realize that it's not just about medals or podium finishes.
When people ask me now what has been the most important during my career, I realize it's about not giving up, growing and finding your own victories. With sharing some of the things I have learned, I hope to inspire people. Whether someone is new to sport or chasing big dreams.
People sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that they are failing, based on a single result. Even during my last Olympic race, there were moments where I more felt like a "loser" because I knew I wasn’t going to get the result I had hoped for!
While running the last kilometre of the race, I forced myself to stop thinking about the result, but to take in the cheering crowd. For the first time in a while, I felt proud again. I realised that representing my country for the fourth time at the Olympics, was also a victory itself.
Sport is like life, without the lows there are no highs. I’ve learned that some of the greatest wins come from moments of personal struggle and resilience.
Setting your own goals
If you’re working towards your next event, remember that your success is something only you can define. Whether it’s finishing the race, aiming for a PB, or just having the courage to start, you’ve already won in your own way.
Setting goals is important. It’s important to set goals that are realistic and keep you motivated. Setting goals only focussed on the result is the easiest, but can often lead to disappointments. It’s important to set process goals! The outcome is important, but it’s the process that get’s you there.
Besides that, happy athletes perform better and focusing on small goals like improving your technique will help you to work towards a bigger goal. Progress is progress, no matter how small!
Like life, things don’t always go as planned and can affect your performance. Not every day is perfect and that’s okay. The key to progress is to be patient and keep working. Listen to your body and trust the process.
Visualisation can make a big difference in overcoming challenges. Let’s say you find something difficult, like jumping on your bike. Try closing your eyes and mentally guide yourself through the steps. By the time you actually have to jump on your bike, you'll find it much easier.
To summarise:
- Set small process goals, not just end result goals
- Be patient, not everything will come easily
- Visualisation is a great tactic to achieving what you set out to do
- don't compare yourself to anyone else, you're success will look different to theirs!
As I continue to process my Olympic journey, one thing remains clear. Success comes in many forms. It’s about the journey and the lessons you learn along the way. To all the women reading this who are getting ready to challenge themselves, I hope you believe in yourself and realise that success is not just about finishing first. It’s about challenging yourself, embracing the highs and lows, and enjoy the journey!
