The PanAm Games are about to begin. They are the 2nd largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics. Almost 800 Canadians will be in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta with you, trying to achieve personal bests, win PamAm medals, set records and earn Olympic Qualification spots. (To be exact, 796 total = 97 coaches+137 support team+ 67 mission team+ 493 athletes).

You are ready.

At the Pan Ams you can draw from the energy and experience of the incredible Canadian team around you; you may learn something from them, and they may learn from you. There will always be something to do, somewhere to explore, someone to talk to and a competition to watch. These sources of inspiration can also be distracting. Be smart.

A multi-sport Games environment can be at the same time incredibly inspiring and motivating as well as challenging. Continue reading →

Recently, I remembered a story that Beckie Scott shared at an Olympic Preparation meeting.  She was recalling a conversation she had with her mom just after returning from the 1998 Olympics. After a less than optimal series of events, which included a flu bug that practically wiped out her team, she had come home very disappointed; questioning her pursuit of sport. Would success ever come? Was it all a waste of time?

As I recall Beckie telling it, her mom suggested to her that she try treating her sport like a career. Initially, Beckie scoffed at the idea – she had always thought of skiing as her passion, a ‘real’ career would come after. Her mom pointed out that she and her dad had invested as much, if not more, into Beckie’s skiing career as her friend’s parents had invested into their university driven ‘normal’ careers!! They saw Beckie’s sport as her career.

Beckie realized that her mom was right – it was time to change her thinking and be more proactive and involved in getting what she wanted. If she wanted to do better, instead of waiting for people to show her what to do, she was going to have to be a driving part of that process. Continue reading →

Happy Canada Day!

While reading the paper recently I was inspired by two 22-year old athletes; a Canadian triathlete and a golfer from Northern Ireland. One came into the weekend with a string of recent successes; the other was recovering from a crushing collapse at this year’s Masters. Regardless of their previous results and approach, recently, both had massive victories on the same day. After their victories both commented that their focus had been on their task.

Paula Findlay, 22, won her 5th triathlon in 11 months and became the most-winning athlete ever in the world championship series. She is one of only three female triathletes in the world to win three straight races. Simply put – she is having a great year.

“I’m thrilled again. Wow, that was a real hard race. I was running maximum the whole way,” said Findlay. “It is cool to be able to have done this much, but I go into every race the same and don’t think about that stuff much. I’m just thinking about the individual race every time.”

Golfer Rory McIlroy’s performance in winning the U.S. (Golf) Open by a record breaking eight shots was outstanding, particularly when you consider that just two months ago he took a four-shot lead into the final round of the Masters, but shot 80 that day to drop way back, finishing tied for 15th.

“[The Masters] was a very valuable experience for me. I learned a lot about myself and about what I needed to. I knew what I had to do to win [here].” McIlroy said.  “So to stand here holding this trophy feels incredible. I played great for four days and I couldn’t be happier.”

Rory credited simply playing well on those four days, and Paula made sure to stay in that moment. In a nut shell; your past results don’t determine today’s results- only today’s actions do that.

Your preparation is a collection of what is done. Staying focused on what you are doing is the best way to achieve your goals. Take advantage of the opportunity of now.

Have a great July!