"For myself, losing is not coming second. It's getting out of the water knowing you could have done better. For myself, I have won every race I've been in."
--Ian Thorpe
Some swimmers get out of the water after a race, in tears, struggling with the fact they lost to someone they thought they should beat.
Some swimmers get upset when their coach delivers a harsh critique after a race.
Some swimmers feel disappointment when they fail to achieve a goal time.
Ian Thorpe suggests that putting in your best effort equals success, and that success should feel like victory ... not disappointment or other ill feelings.
If one enters the water determined to do their very best, to swim their hardest, to incorporate what they've learned in practice, to focus on pre-race strategies - then they can get out of the water completely satisfied with their effort. They can be satisfied regardless of who won, regardless of the time on the scoreboard, and regardless of what anyone else says. Being satisfied with their own effort means ...
A coach's harsh words become a valuable learning opportunity
Getting beat becomes an opportunity to be gracious in defeat
Falling short of a goal becomes incentive to work harder
Ian Thorpe, aka The Thorpedo, lead a vocal and talented Australian team in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic games winning three gold and two silver medals. He continues to swim competitively but failed to make his country's 2012 Olympic team.
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