Sorry about the cliche, but Lewis Hamilton has shown us quite clearly that to win a F1 Racing Championship you have to work as a team.
In interviews post his nail biting victory her 'we, we, we'ed' all the way home! What I know about F1 racing is certainly not going to win me any medals in that sport, but what I do know about is sport and what it takes to win, and the 'we' mentality is certainly one of the major factors. Successful sports men and women around the world do not just owe their success to their own hard work, dedication, sacrifice, talent and persistence, but they also owe and attribute their success to those who have supported them, guided them, chastised them, encouraged them, comforted them, praised them, advised them, and listened to them, on a daily basis throughout their sporting careers.
In Africa they say it takes a village to raise a child. Well I say it takes close knit support team who value the individual to make a successful sports person.
Well done Lewis - you and your team did just great, no man is an island. (couldn't resist!)
Sunday, 2 November 2008
Monday, 25 August 2008
Olympic Relay Anyone?
How hard can it be to run with a small baton in your hand, pass it on to a team member, let go and repeat 3 times?
Well - if you saw the women and men's 4x100 relay final heats and finals at the Beijing Olympics you might be thinking - "perhaps it is not as easy as it looks!". Having run the odd relay in my day I can actually testify that running full pelt with a baton in your hand is a sinch - factor in passing it on to someone else running at fullish pelt and a line you can't cross - not so easy!
To pull it off it requires teamwork, good communication skills, speed, judgement, confidence and putting that all together under pressure is not that simple. This was all too apparent whilst watching the track and field relays at this years Olympics. I have watched numerous relays on tv and live where really fast teams, drop, fumble, run out of the box, go into someone else's lane, you name it. All in the quest to finsh first over the line with baton in hand - victorious! To see two relay races which are near perfect you just need to watch the Men's 4x100 GB team of Athens, 2000 and the Men's 4x400GB Team at the World Championships in Tokyo, 1991. There everything worked, skills, speed, cofindence and teamwork, the result - gold medals for both teams.
Talent alone does not make a successful team or sportsperson. It always comes down to good teamwork, something that even individuals sports women and men know. Just talk to Kris Akabusi, the anchor man of the 4x400 team in Tokyo.
If you haven't had the pleasure of seeing this race go to.
Well - if you saw the women and men's 4x100 relay final heats and finals at the Beijing Olympics you might be thinking - "perhaps it is not as easy as it looks!". Having run the odd relay in my day I can actually testify that running full pelt with a baton in your hand is a sinch - factor in passing it on to someone else running at fullish pelt and a line you can't cross - not so easy!
To pull it off it requires teamwork, good communication skills, speed, judgement, confidence and putting that all together under pressure is not that simple. This was all too apparent whilst watching the track and field relays at this years Olympics. I have watched numerous relays on tv and live where really fast teams, drop, fumble, run out of the box, go into someone else's lane, you name it. All in the quest to finsh first over the line with baton in hand - victorious! To see two relay races which are near perfect you just need to watch the Men's 4x100 GB team of Athens, 2000 and the Men's 4x400GB Team at the World Championships in Tokyo, 1991. There everything worked, skills, speed, cofindence and teamwork, the result - gold medals for both teams.
Talent alone does not make a successful team or sportsperson. It always comes down to good teamwork, something that even individuals sports women and men know. Just talk to Kris Akabusi, the anchor man of the 4x400 team in Tokyo.
If you haven't had the pleasure of seeing this race go to.
Thursday, 21 August 2008
Maybe we can't do 8, but what about 2?
It has been a long time since a female GB team swimmer has walked away with a gold medals, so when I saw Rebecca Adlington come home with 2 gold medals I certainly took notice.
Yet again I was up at silly o'clock looking at some amazing feats of athletic ability. Her bubbly self confidence was certainly obvious in her poolside chats with Sharon Davis, and we are surely going to see more of her on the world stage.
Another one to watch no doubt in 2012!
Yet again I was up at silly o'clock looking at some amazing feats of athletic ability. Her bubbly self confidence was certainly obvious in her poolside chats with Sharon Davis, and we are surely going to see more of her on the world stage.
Another one to watch no doubt in 2012!
Sunday, 17 August 2008
Michael Phelps - Man or Fish?
Michael Phelps the American swimming sensation has to be the star of the Beijing Olympics. 8 gold medals in this day and age is a lot of bling!
I am not a particular fan of swimming, but this year's Olympics in the gorgeous aquatic centre have been rather special. As well as Phelps' 8 gold medal haul we also seen our very own Rebecca Adlington win 2 gold medals in the pool. I have been getting up at silly o'clock (3 am) to watch Mr Phelps and Co take the waters.
Swimmers put in a tremendous amount of training, not that everyone doesn't do the same, but the time he spends in the pool training and competing is probably as much time as anybody spends on dry land! I 've seen swimmers train and it seems boring, repetitive and tiring!
Some of the qualities of top performers include, confidence, postivie mental attitude, being goal oriented, persistent, and seek to overcome challenges, to name but a few. Michael Phelps has displayed them all at this Olympics. Phelps has been a joy to watch as he makes a spot for himsel in Olympic swimming history, and who knows what he will do when, and or if, he competes on UK soil in 2012.
I guess we will all have to watch this space.
To view a short clip of the marvel check him out here.
I am not a particular fan of swimming, but this year's Olympics in the gorgeous aquatic centre have been rather special. As well as Phelps' 8 gold medal haul we also seen our very own Rebecca Adlington win 2 gold medals in the pool. I have been getting up at silly o'clock (3 am) to watch Mr Phelps and Co take the waters.
Swimmers put in a tremendous amount of training, not that everyone doesn't do the same, but the time he spends in the pool training and competing is probably as much time as anybody spends on dry land! I 've seen swimmers train and it seems boring, repetitive and tiring!
Some of the qualities of top performers include, confidence, postivie mental attitude, being goal oriented, persistent, and seek to overcome challenges, to name but a few. Michael Phelps has displayed them all at this Olympics. Phelps has been a joy to watch as he makes a spot for himsel in Olympic swimming history, and who knows what he will do when, and or if, he competes on UK soil in 2012.
I guess we will all have to watch this space.
To view a short clip of the marvel check him out here.
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