Life Lessons from the Olympics
Last night, I was watching the Olympics, and I’m sure many of you have been following this global event over the past two weeks as well. The three core values of Olympism—excellence, respect, and friendship—form the foundation upon which the Olympic movement builds its efforts to promote sport, culture and education, all with the goal of building a better world. There are many lessons we can draw from the Olympics and apply to our daily lives. Today, I’d like to share seven of those lessons with you.
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Someone else winning doesn’t take away from your success
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Celebrate your achievements regardless of others’ victories.
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Your hard work and progress are valuable on their own. Focus on your personal journey and the milestones you achieve along the way.
“But I’m just happy the way I raced and just stoked to get the silver medal, I did everything I could possibly do to win.” Hayden Wilde, New Zealand Silver Medalist
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Set Big Goals, Take Small Steps
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Achieving great things often involves setting ambitious goals and breaking them down into manageable steps.
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Big dreams are accomplished through consistent, incremental progress.
“Honestly, if we are being true to ourselves, [gold] was the dream. Rowing is too hard to not have the big dream. The training was too tough to commit to that without having something that was driving us every day.” Lucy Spoors and Brooke Francis, New Zealand Gold Medalists.
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Perseverance Pays Off: Even if you don’t succeed at first, keep trying.
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Many Olympians face setbacks and failures before achieving their dreams.
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Persistent effort and determination can lead to eventual success. Every challenge you overcome strengthens your resolve and brings you closer to your goals.
“I put my heart, my soul, my body, my family, everything on the line. To win Olympic gold at 37, I finally did it.” Novak Djokovic, Serbian Gold Medalist
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Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
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In life, like team sports, success relies on cooperation, trust, and working together towards a common goal.
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Collaboration and mutual support are crucial for achieving shared objectives. Effective teamwork leverages each member’s strengths and fosters a sense of unity. United we stand, divided we fall.
“…We were all very confident with ourselves, with each other, that we’d be able to get the job done. I suppose it just comes down to the group and everyone having each other’s back whenever we needed to.” Stacey Waaka, New Zealand Black Fern Sevens Gold Medalist
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Fine Margins Can Make a Big Difference
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In the Olympics, the difference between gold and silver can be milliseconds or millimeters, reminding us that paying attention to the fine margins and striving for excellence in every aspect can have a significant impact.
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100m Final – 0.005 seconds – five milliseconds. For context, it takes 100 milliseconds to blink.
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Success often comes down to the smallest details. Don’t be in a rush, be thorough.
With reference to the photo finish in the Men’s Athletics 100m final
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Real courage is being afraid and doing it anyway
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True bravery involves facing your fears and pushing forward despite them.
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Even the best athletes feel fear and doubt. Courage is about taking action in spite of those feelings and not letting fear hold you back.
“It’s a beautiful wave but at first I avoided that wave for a long time. I never wanted to go when it was breaking, when I knew there was swell, because I was quite terrified by it.” Saffi Vette, New Zealand Olympic Surfer
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Learn from your losses
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Our losses help us appreciate success more deeply and understand the value of the journey.
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Setbacks are an opportunity for growth and development. Don’t become outcome focussed. Have a growth mindset and learn from your mistakes. Keep perspective!
“When I was younger my identity was tied up in how well I raced a bike, and as much as it hurts now, I know my people will still care about me in the morning. It’s going to take some time, but at the end of the day life goes on. I’ve learned that. I think the biggest thing is, don’t lose hope.” Sam Gaze, New Zealand Olympic Mountain Biker
In life, just like in the Olympics, it’s the little things that make a big difference. Whether it’s learning from defeat, celebrating others’ successes, or persevering through challenges, every step we take, no matter how small, brings us closer to our goals. Remember, true success isn’t just about winning—it’s about the journey, the lessons learned, and the growth we experience along the way. Let’s embrace these lessons, work together, and keep striving for excellence in all we do.