Inspiration, Olympic-Style

If you’re like me, you have been glued to the television for the last few week. Perhaps excessive amounts of tube watching isn’t the best, but the Olympics come along just once every two years. Even though golf is not a part of the games, you can still learn a great deal from the athletes and apply those lessons to your game and your life. Here are a few things I’ve learned while watching:

Success comes thanks to dedication and lots of practice. Do you think Lindsey Vonn could ski 1.8 miles in 1:44 the first time she stepped into her skis?

To be the best, you must be willing to make sacrifices. The pair who took home the gold medal in figure skating, Zhao and Shen, have been married for a few years. But, to commit to being in top shape for the Olympics, they lived in separate dorm rooms while training.

Stay focused. Alexandre Bilodeau won the first gold medal for Canada on home soil. He told that his brother Frederic who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at a young age was his inspiration and kept him focused. In an interview he said, “Even if it’s raining, I’ll take it, I’ll go train. He doesn’t have that chance, and he’s having a smile every morning he wakes up.”

Even with the best training, sometimes unavoidable things happen…just ask the Korean short track speed skater who was seconds away from a medal when his own teammate took him out.

When the unavoidable does happen, you have to find the courage to go on. During a competition, Jessica Dubé, Canadian pairs figure skater, was cut in the face by her partner’s blade. The result? 83 stitches. Yet, she and her same partner are still competing together.

In the end, let go and have a good time. Take a look at Shawn White’s gold medal half-pipe run. Those heights, flips and acrobatics can only be attributed to practice, courage and a healthy dose of fun.

What have been your favorite moments from the Vancouver Olympics?