Olympic Lessons: Training, Consistency and the Pursuit of “Next”
Most of us have spent the last two weeks caught up in the excitement of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. From traditional sports like swimming, gymnastics, track and field, soccer, and basketball—to the newer additions to the Olympic stage—surfing, skateboarding, and breaking, we have collectively celebrated the wins of individual and team sport athletes. We have also empathized with the disappointment of those athletes who worked so hard to get to Paris but did not achieve the outcomes they had hoped for.
The Olympic Games are filled with symbolism. They are an opportunity to demonstrate the remarkable achievements of athletes, for example, as well as a celebration of national pride and an illustration of the universal appeal of sports as a platform for unity, equality, and connection. The addition of new sports to the most recent games also reflects a trend towards diversifying the Olympic program to engage younger audiences, embracing disciplines that resonate with today’s global culture. While we witness performances from literally the best in the world every four years, it is easy to discount the work it took to get here. In addition, we rarely spend time contemplating what may come after for the participating athletes. In many ways, the Olympic Games are a powerful example of the value of intentional effort and consistency. They can also be an interesting study in transition, both for individuals and for a community.
In today’s world, we are often bombarded with messages that celebrate overnight successes and instant gratification, leading us to believe that achievement should be quick and effortless. However, it takes years of intentional effort and consistency to make an Olympic team, and even more to make the podium. Unlike professional sports, where each game is tied to financial compensation and an immediate win or loss, the journey to the Olympics does not always include such immediate feedback. Accomplishing the goal of Olympic greatness requires setting clear goals and making daily deliberate choices that align with those goals that will hopefully pay off in four years. It requires active engagement in activities that move you closer to your desired outcome, the ability to minimize distractions, and the discernment to differentiate between all that aligns with your vision and all that does not. Similarly, consistency—showing up every day and putting in the work, despite challenges, disappointments, and low motivation—is the unwavering commitment and action toward achieving those goals. Olympic athletes understand that the journey to success is not a sprint, but a marathon. Their lives bring to life the analogy of planting a tree: a single day of watering and sunlight does not yield robust results, but daily care over months and years will. But what happens once all the work is complete, what happens next—win, lose, or draw? What do you do after spending years meticulously preparing for the world’s greatest stage?
There is a lot that we can learn about culture, sportsmanship, and the capabilities of the human body by watching the Olympic Games. There are also lessons from what we don’t see: the thousands of hours of preparation—intentional effort delivered consistently—that culminates in one moment, which for the men’s 100m dash takes less than 10 seconds. We've had the privilege of sharing with the best athletes in the world one of the biggest moments of their lives. Let’s carry forward their spirit of excellence, innovation, and unity into every endeavor we pursue. Let’s also make sure that we support these athletes in their pursuit of ‘next’, whether that is transitioning out of sport, or beginning the preparation process for the next four years.
Congratulations to the athletes, organizers, and fans who have made the 2024 Games a historic success. Here’s to intentional effort, consistency, and striving for a better world…both in sports and in life.
