As we mentioned in a previous post, a lot can be learned from Olympic athletes that can be applied to your golf game and your life. If you happened to see the Dutch skater Sven Kramer lose his gold medal because of his coach’s mistake, you know that not all lessons are easy to swallow.

For those of you who haven’t been spending hours in front of the TV and staying up late to catch the coverage, here is a quick recap. Kramer turned in an Olympic record time and thought he had earned the gold when he finished his 10,000m speed skate. Unfortunately he didn’t realize that his coach had ill-advised him to change lanes a few laps back. In reality, his coach was incorrect and when Kramer heeded his advice, it cost him the gold. Talk about heartbreak, anger and disbelief all rolled into one. So what do you do when adversity strikes?

Breathe deeply. Needless to say, Kramer was quite angry after he discovered what had happened. But once the dust settled, his anger subsided and he could see more clearly.

Seek wise counsel. We all know that coaches are indispensable advisors, but make sure you are getting the correct advice.

Realize we are all human. The coach made one mistake. Unfortunately it was on the largest stage possible and it cost his athlete a gold medal.

Take responsibility. Kramer could easily blame his coach, but instead, he stated, “At the end of the day, it is my responsibility. I am the skater on the ice. I have to do it.”

Perhaps you and I won’t be faced with a mistake of this caliber, but regardless of our skill level or talent, we will face trials on and off the course. The question is: how do you handle moments of adversity?