Trickett turning failure into Gold?

Australian Libby Trickett is poised for a gold rush in Beijing, based on form and world ranking. Much wiser than when she went to Athens as Libby Lenton, and a world record holder, Libby is reported to have learned from the experience. Back in 2004 Libby buckled under the pressure and expectation and 'only' managed team gold in the relay and bronze in her pet event the 100 metre freestyle. This was considered 'failure' in light of her preparation and it is encouraging to read that Libby views her experience as one of "learning'.
I believe there is no such thing as failure unless we choose it be, or if we let a bad result cause us to quit. We either like a result or we don't, and unless we are willing to learn from the result, then we can not grow and move forward. Most of the world's biggest achievers have succeeded after many a failure. In fact, no-one can succeed without failing first. Often we might place higher meaning to where that failure occurs - especially in the big Olympic spotlight as happened for Libby.
That Libby Trickett has continued to work hard in her sport and win the admiration of supporters, sponsors and peers is testament to the attitude of persistence and an ability to learn from the hard knocks.
What can you learn from your least desired results? What do you need to learn in order for you to succeed?

Michelle Wie playing against the men again

The Women's British Open commences this week and yet Michelle Wie has once again chosen to play against the men - a tournament in Reno. There is much speculation as to why Michelle continues to test herself in this way - is it for her sponsors? is it bad advice from her management? is it Michelle's own decision? Perhaps the focus is on a long-term plan developing Michelle's game against tough competition for future success on the LPGA tour?
But could Michelle get this same development competing against the women? This week's British Open would have given Michelle a final chance to play against golf legend Annika Sorenstam, who is reported to be retiring after this event.
18 years old and with a long golf future ahead, is it time for Michelle to start producing the goods that her potential has been screaming for. Is it enough to have the potential to be great? Michelle might be thinking she has the experience and maturity to make these decision and hopefully she will be able to look back in future years and know that she made the best ones for her own success. If anything, it is an opportunity for her to learn and grow in ways beyond her sport.

Drugs, Tour de France, Olympics......

The Tour de France is finished with a new champion. I am sorry to see that Cadel Evans missed out on the win and yet a mark of consistency to finish second two years in a row. A noteworthy feat that few can emulate.
Drugs marred yet another year of racing and even the final day featured a drug bust. and now heading into the Beijing Olympics, drugs are yet again a feature of the news.
Top US breast-stroker Jessica Hardy recently tested positive for a banned substance. 1 in 4 Australian athletes expect there to be drug cheats competing in Beijing, with swimmer Grant Hackett saying "it would be naive to think the games will be clean." The head of the World Anti-Doping Agency, John Fahey is confident of a 'cheat-free' games despite continuing doubts about the effectiveness of blood doping tests.
Are the drug cheats still one step ahead? Are there nations that still dope their athletes secretly as in the East German regime of the '80's. I recently watched a documentary on the sad effects on East German athletes now 25+ years post-drugs. Athletes permanently crippled and in constant pain, women that have undergone gender change because of the effects of the drugs.
Is short-term glory worth this pain for those knowingly taking steroids for performance enhancement?

Power of Persistence - Merlene Ottey attempts for eighth Olympics?

As a keen watcher of Olympic games since my '76, I have always admired Jamaican-born sprinter Merlene Ottey. She first competed at an Olympics in Moscow in 1980. I admire her for her persistence, determination and grace - powerful qualities of a champion. To read that 48 year old Ottey is still running and striving to race at a record eighth Olympic Games (28 years after her first) is truly inspirational. It was reported this week that she had failed in her bid to qualify by a mere 28 hundredths of a second.
However Ottey will continue to run. Her coach states that Ottey will continue to run because she can still be fast. It appears that Merlene Ottey is in sync with her body and how things ARE rather than ascribing to general beliefs about what should be. By being in the moment, and perhaps being passionate about running, Ottey continues to thrive on running and the motivation to compete at the highest level.
Though Ottey failed to win Olympic gold, no-one can deny the measure of her success which includes 9 Olympic medals, 2 World Championship titles and 14 world Championship medals.
Last week another veteran, 39 year old Irina Privalova also missed out qualifying for Beijing.

Tour de France - go Cadel

It's wonderful to follow the current success of Australian cyclist Cadel Evans on the Tour de France. I met a young Cadel at the Sydney Olympics as a fellow competitor when he was a leading World Mountain Biker and admired his down-to-earth but no-nonsense attitude that suggested, to me, he was going to be successful for years to come.
Cadel has been a consistent performer on the World stage since his first Tour de France in 2005 with a debut 8th performance. After finishing runner-up in 2007, consistency has seen him grow to favourite on this year's tour which finishes this Sunday. Does he have what it takes to win, and to repeat it to become an enduring champion in the footsteps of Lance Armstrong?
I look forward to cheering Cadel across the line at Champs Elysees from afar. Be inspired by this video

Learn from a Champion

What better way to become a successful sporting champion then learning from someone who has done it already. Shelley Oates-Wilding is one of Australia's most successful sportswomen, representing Australia in three sports. She has been to two Olympics, was a finalist in Atlanta and was a World Champion in surf ski and outrigger canoeing. Shelley has also created success outside of sport in business, as a motivational speaker and as a wife and mother.
Shelley will be chatting with me on the 24th July answering YOUR questions. Go to a wwww.askyoursportingchampion.com to submit your question - what is the one thing you would like to know about what it takes to be a champion? You can then register your spot on the teleseminar and get all the details of the LIVE call/webcast. I look forward to welcoming you on the call.

Venus Williams wins Wimbledon

The women's Wimbledon final has been played after a fortnight of upsets over the top seeds. The Williams' sisters have once again stepped up when in counts - in Grand Slam competition. Some detractors see this as a sleight on the quality of women's tennis - that someone who pays more attention to fashion and media opportunities can turn-up to a major competition and still make the final and win.
The Telegraph (UK) argues that this supports why women should not get equal pay as men's tennis. Their argument reflecting not only the discrepancy in number of sets played, but how difficult it is to win the respective championships. The latter being highly subjective.
In the corporate world, there is never any argument that the intensity of work/labour is in direct proportion to the amount of earnings. In fact it is quite the opposite. In the corporate world, he/she who works "SMARTER" rather than harder, is the one earning the big dollars.
Venus and Serena Williams exhibit, what I consider, a healthy belief that their life can be balanced between success on the court and off the court. They believe they can win without tormenting their body with week after week on the tour. That is smart and those who object could perhaps look at their own belief patterns to ask themselves, why is it wrong? What do you think?