In a letter to the athletes getting ready for the 2024 Olympic Video games in Paris, we requested 7-time Olympic medalist Shannon Miller what she would advise as they put together for a journey of lifetime…
Pricey Athletes,
Paris 2024 is right here! This yr goes to be a whirlwind between the lead up camps and competitions, nailing down ultimate routines, perfecting the main points and getting ready each mentally and bodily to make the workforce and compete at this historic occasion! It’s been practically 30 years since my final Olympics…audible gasp. Hopefully, I’m not solely older but additionally a bit wiser, or on the very least gained some perspective. I’ve received the gold, I’ve additionally fallen flat (on my bottom in entrance of the world, many occasions over). It’s not in regards to the finish. It’s in regards to the journey. Repeat this to your self!
All the things you’ve finished up thus far, every part you’ll do that summer time forces you to make the most of some superb life classes; you set objectives and also you’ve labored day-after-day to attain them. You’ve relied on and contributed to your workforce. You’ve labored by adversity with resiliency and a “get again up” angle. While you hit that second if you don’t know in the event you can preserve going, take into consideration how far you’ve come, how a lot you’ve overcome to get thus far.
While you really feel unsure, when the destructive ideas or worries start to creep in, the one query you should ask your self is that this: “Did I do the work?” When you’ve finished the work, within the fitness center every day, there isn’t any want to fret. As my mom stated to me the night time earlier than my ultimate Olympic stability beam routine, “You’ve finished the work. You’ll be able to stroll on the market assured that you’ve finished every part you could possibly probably do as much as this second to get it proper. No matter occurs subsequent goes to occur, however you’ll be able to at all times be happy with the work you place in.”
As you progress by the occasions main as much as and thru the Olympic Video games, be happy with the work you place in, and don’t overlook to get pleasure from every second alongside the way in which. Take within the websites, sounds, the roar of the followers! Each your teammates and rivals will seemingly change into lifelong buddies with you, these bonds cast by the coaching schedules and rigors of elite stage sports activities. What you are taking away from this yr of competitors, and sport basically, can propel you into your subsequent endeavor and open up alternatives you by no means imagined. That is the second. That is when these life classes come to fruition.
While you stroll into that enviornment for competitors, really feel the nerves, really feel the thrill and the importance however know that you’re not on this alone. Between your coaches, dad and mom, buddies and group you’ve an unbelievable assist system it doesn’t matter what occurs on the day of competitors. We’ll all be cheering you on! Within the phrases of my private coach that he shared earlier than each competitors, “You’ve finished the work. Now, go on the market and have some enjoyable!”
