At the Aviva London Grand Prix (Crystal Palace) on the weekend it was Jamaica fever. Usain Bolt fans were dancing and posing along with the sprinting superstar, and this was just before he raced! Little kids were recognising the Jamaican's dressed in their national colours and loving it - amazing! Is this just the power of one man? I don't think so, but at the moment most young aspiring athletes and fans think this guy is something special. In fact I do too!
With the talk of the Jamaican runners having some positive dope tests and the hype of the likely showdown between Tyson Gay and Usain Bolt in Berlin (don't want to jinx either athlete) all eyes are even more so on the Jamaican sprinting team.
Is Bolt a freak of nature? Who knows? But the boy can run! From what I can see he is determined to show the world that not only can he run fast he can entertain and is one of the good guys. I guess if you were going to create a super hero, these qualities are a good start.
Bolt is a good example of an athlete making a positive transition within his sport. He wanted to run the 100metres years ago, but apparently his coach had other ideas. It looks like his coach knew what he was doing as Bolt is now the fastest man in the world in both the 100 and 200metres sprint.
Bolt is true to his name in that runs like a bolt of lightening, however since the return of injured America's top sprinter Tyson Gay and since Beijing, like most athletes at the top of their game, he has had a bulls eye on his back which all the top class sprinters are aiming for.
Will they catch him? Watch this space.
The World Championships in Berlin start on 15th August. I'll be glued - how about you?
Monday, 27 July 2009
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
Age is but a number
When we think of a professional in any industry what do we think they look like? Business attire, smart, sophisticated, maybe a touch of maturity about them, late 20's or above. Stereo typical yes, but do we still think them? Of course!
Well, in the sporting arena professionals come in all shapes and sizes, and some of them are very young. In the world of sport we forget that a 'professional athlete' is still a 'professional'. They are specialists in a particular sport, experts in their field, they have a certain level of experience, they hone their craft, and that is what they spend the majority of their time doing.
By winning the 10m platform in the Diving World Championships Tom Daley, the British diving sensation, has shown that at the tender age of 15 (Gosh, I now feel very old!)has been able to put disappointment behind him (Beijing Olympics) and excel in his chosen sport. In my view a top quality of a true professional. More mature people are not even able to do this, most of us may have given up, or bottled it. Not Tom - he has obviously gone from strength to strength. Out of losing comes winning. Once you keep at it, honing your craft and following a plan, winning can become a habit. Let's just hope that this is now something Tom can get used to and keep doing it.
Whether you are 15 or 50 years old, it doesn't matter, age is but a number when it comes to being professional!
Well, in the sporting arena professionals come in all shapes and sizes, and some of them are very young. In the world of sport we forget that a 'professional athlete' is still a 'professional'. They are specialists in a particular sport, experts in their field, they have a certain level of experience, they hone their craft, and that is what they spend the majority of their time doing.
By winning the 10m platform in the Diving World Championships Tom Daley, the British diving sensation, has shown that at the tender age of 15 (Gosh, I now feel very old!)has been able to put disappointment behind him (Beijing Olympics) and excel in his chosen sport. In my view a top quality of a true professional. More mature people are not even able to do this, most of us may have given up, or bottled it. Not Tom - he has obviously gone from strength to strength. Out of losing comes winning. Once you keep at it, honing your craft and following a plan, winning can become a habit. Let's just hope that this is now something Tom can get used to and keep doing it.
Whether you are 15 or 50 years old, it doesn't matter, age is but a number when it comes to being professional!
Diving for gold!
At the weekend Tom Daley added the World 10metre championship to the European one that he already holds - and this at the age of 15 making him the youngest platform world champion in history.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown issued a congratulatory statement on Tuesday, hailing Daley as an "inspiration..........to young people right across the country". Role models play a very important role in inspiring people to excel and Tom Daley may already have laid the foundations for a future world champion from the UK without even being aware of it!
However, there will always be people who are jealous of success and who seek to wreck other people's achievements and dreams. World champions are not immune to this, as Daley found on his return from the Beijing Olympics in 2008, when some of his schoolmates were not happy to have a star in their midst. "Everyone started being stupid and calling me names, throwing bits of paper, tipping my pencil case out in front of the whole class. They were calling me 'diver boy' and saying' how much are your legs worth? I'll break them'.
Although it was not 'high level' bullying it was annoying for Daley and he says "When I was annoyed at school I started to get annoyed at diving. Daley subsequently enrolled at a public school, Plymouth College, which appreciates the importance of combining education with sport, and as he says "I'm much happier now I can concentrate on diving".
Prime Minister Gordon Brown issued a congratulatory statement on Tuesday, hailing Daley as an "inspiration..........to young people right across the country". Role models play a very important role in inspiring people to excel and Tom Daley may already have laid the foundations for a future world champion from the UK without even being aware of it!
However, there will always be people who are jealous of success and who seek to wreck other people's achievements and dreams. World champions are not immune to this, as Daley found on his return from the Beijing Olympics in 2008, when some of his schoolmates were not happy to have a star in their midst. "Everyone started being stupid and calling me names, throwing bits of paper, tipping my pencil case out in front of the whole class. They were calling me 'diver boy' and saying' how much are your legs worth? I'll break them'.
Although it was not 'high level' bullying it was annoying for Daley and he says "When I was annoyed at school I started to get annoyed at diving. Daley subsequently enrolled at a public school, Plymouth College, which appreciates the importance of combining education with sport, and as he says "I'm much happier now I can concentrate on diving".
What has enabled Tom Daley to press on and excel, despite the bullies, are characteristics common to all elite athletes such as his undoubted passion for what he is doing and an uncompromising commitment to being the best that he can be. These, combined with the fact that action was taken to deal with something outside of his sport that was beginning to adversely impact on his diving performance, were major contributors to the result that was there for all to see at the weekend in Rome.
Monday, 13 July 2009
Welcome Back Jessica!
Welcome back Jessica!
With a flash of a grin and a top performance at the UK National Championships and the World Trials in Birmingham, Jessica Ennis showed that she is back with full force.
Jessica showed us what champions are made of. After her annus horribilus last year she looks faster, stronger and better than ever. After scoring 3 PB's on the weekend, and making it look rather easy, you can only admire her sheer grit and determination to get back to full fitness and peak performance, she is truly a classy athlete. The focus, dedication, and sheer hardwork she must have put into her training to come back this year after her disappointment at not being able to go the Olympics, through injury, just shows you what professional athletes have to go through to reach the top of their sport.
I am sure that all track and field fans will be looking forward to seeing what she can do in the World Championships in Berlin, and of course beyond.
Go Jessica!
With a flash of a grin and a top performance at the UK National Championships and the World Trials in Birmingham, Jessica Ennis showed that she is back with full force.
Jessica showed us what champions are made of. After her annus horribilus last year she looks faster, stronger and better than ever. After scoring 3 PB's on the weekend, and making it look rather easy, you can only admire her sheer grit and determination to get back to full fitness and peak performance, she is truly a classy athlete. The focus, dedication, and sheer hardwork she must have put into her training to come back this year after her disappointment at not being able to go the Olympics, through injury, just shows you what professional athletes have to go through to reach the top of their sport.
I am sure that all track and field fans will be looking forward to seeing what she can do in the World Championships in Berlin, and of course beyond.
Go Jessica!
Sunday, 5 July 2009
True Grit
The Federer V Roddick final was a thriller for those who wanted Roddick to win and sheer torture for those who wanted history to be made (tennis play who has won the most grand slams) and Roger to regain the No. 1 spot on the ATP tour.
I had the pleasure and privilege of watching the fifth set live and just about left the court with my finger nails in tact! Roddick played his socks off, but Federer, like a dog with his favourite bone, was not going to give up. Such determination is what champions are made of and Roddick unfortunately was on the wrong end of Federer digging dip and showing that it is not just ability, talent and hardwork which dicatates success, but true grit when it really matters.
What next for Federer? Well, the patter of tiny feet awaits and then who knows!
I had the pleasure and privilege of watching the fifth set live and just about left the court with my finger nails in tact! Roddick played his socks off, but Federer, like a dog with his favourite bone, was not going to give up. Such determination is what champions are made of and Roddick unfortunately was on the wrong end of Federer digging dip and showing that it is not just ability, talent and hardwork which dicatates success, but true grit when it really matters.
What next for Federer? Well, the patter of tiny feet awaits and then who knows!
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