Jan 3, 2013
I’ll start with declaring my bias for multi-event athletes, as I competed in the Pentathlon for below knee amputees at three Paralympic games.
When I watch the Olympics I see the amazingly proportionate bodies of the multi-events athlete competing in the Heptathlon and Decathlon and it’s seems obvious to me what this sports about, balance. Not oversized muscles that are good for one or two things in life, not the skinny lanky bodies that can run all day but the perfect body, the all rounder, strong and capable of nailing a full day of competition with the best athletes in the world.
The balance doesn’t stop at the psychical stature of these awesome athletes it goes far beyond their capacity to put a shot, throw a javelin, jump long and run fast, the real strength is I believe what goes on between their ears.
The mental aptitude of the athletes has a lot to do with the fact they compete all day, they don’t sprint off and forget about their fellow competitors, they literally finish an event and then go to a holding bay under the stand, that’s where they congregate between event. This time spent is not always the most social place on the planet but one thing is sure, you get to learn a lot about your fellow comeptitors. You learn to appreciate each others high and lows.
I think having respect for fellow competitors is a very healthy trait and accepting things don’t always go to plan is the mark of a balanced athlete. Multi-event athletes learn the importance leaving the baggage of a bad event behind them as soon as they have finished that event. The focus moves quickly to the next event. This is Sport imitating life at it’s best, going through life with unshakable baggage is hard conducive to optimal performace.
Fortunately I’m still in contact with a few of my fellow competitors even though my last competition with them was over 6 years ago. Being an athlete provides far more than a well shaped body.
May all athletes enjoy the true riches of sport and learn to be the best human they can no matter what the outcome on the scoreboard,
Cheers
Don
