Day 5 Beijing
Saturday, August 16 2008
Can you believe it? I knew it could happen but
actually seeing it happen is something else. And to
do it with such drama and style is truly impressive.
Actually Michael only has 7 of the 8 gold medals that
he hopes to get. The 8th gold medal should come
tonight but it will be a very difficult race in the
4×100 medley relay with the Australians. I’m trusting
that he and the USA team have overcome so much already
that hopefully this last relay will work out fine. In
tying the record 7 golds in one Olympics Michael
already is a champion but to get one more would make
him the greatest ever!
What makes a champion? Is it someone who never loses
or is it more in how you hold yourself before and
after a race regardless of the result? I think it may
have more to do with the latter. Watching Michael
Phelps makes me wonder, what are the qualities of a
true champion? No doubt Michael’s domination of the
world in all his events followed by gracious and
humble interviews would be very close to the epitome
of a champion. But I also see signs of it when world
record holder Aaron Piersol was incredibly gracious
and positive while receiving the silver medal after
his teammate Ryan Lochte had broken the record and won
the gold. I saw it when Jason Lezak decided not to
give up on the end of the 4×100 free relay. I saw it
when Brendan Hansen congratulated his rival Kosuke
Kitajima from Japan broke his world record and Brendan
painfully got fourth.
What is not a champion? The Swedish wrestler who
threw a temper tantrum on the medal stand when he got
the bronze medal. After he threw his medal on the
ground and walked away the officials stripped him of
his medal altogether. He embarrassed himself and took
a medal away from his country.
You can be champion by doing your best in your sport,
in your school and most importantly, how you treat
others. The Olympic athletes have incredible control
over their bodies but a real champion has control over
the mind, heart and tongue as well. To think the
right thing, feel the right thing and to do the right
thing.
Always be very careful how you speak and act, for it
will effect your life in powerful ways. Michael was
gracious in the interview last night with Mark Spitz.
Mark congratulated Mike and Mike told him thank you
for setting the standard and supporting him. They
both agreed that the magic and mystery of the human
imagination and human will was a powerful thing that
helped them do what no other human had ever done!
What about you? What do you dream about? Do you know
how you can broaden your mind and enhance your
imagination of the possibilities in your life? Yes,
you guessed it…reading! Remember the course of
your life can be greatly effected by the books you
read and the people you meet. If you want to be your
best in swimming, read great book and spend time
around people making good choices.
So I know you will be cheering extra loud at the tv
tonight to help bring the USA relay home with the
another gold medal and Michael’s eighth!! And we can
all say that we witnessed history!
