THE OLYMPIC YEAR

Take Care of Today and Tomorrow Will Take Care of Itself

"Remember it is the perfection of the smallest details that make big things happen. “
-John Wooden.

The Olympic Games are the pinnacle of competition in swimming. Almost every swimmer had a moment in his or her childhood where the dream was born. The story is often told of how watching the Olympics on television inspired thoughts of glory, representing one's country, and possibly having the opportunity to stand on top of the podium while one's national anthem is being played and as one's country's flag is raised to the sky for all to see.

The Olympics Games have become the greatest celebration of sport in the world, where athletes from across the globe compete for the honour of being called an Olympic Champion.

Simply put, they are the biggest pressure cooker in all of sport. "The Olympics is supped up by the media. It happens every four years, so if you mess up, you have got four years to think about it," explains world record holder Brendan Hansen.

"The Olympics is how well can you control your nerves, how well can you take your nerves and use it to your advantage and be comfortable in a very stressful situation; because that is what it is. I mean, there's sponsors, there's coaches, you know there are six million people watching you, there's media all over you, there are so many things you just don't deal with on a regular basis, because let's be honest, there isn't an Olympics every year. There is a Superbowl or there are big events every year, but for us, it is every four years, so it is even bigger."

Stressful Times

With this type of buildup for an event that occurs only once a quadrennial and has the power to define the legacy of its participants, the year leading up the Olympics can be one of the most stressful times in the lives of athletes and coaches.

The year leading up the 2000 Olympics, I worked at the University of Calgary as an assistant to Jan Bidrman and Mike Blondal while attending the National Coaching Institute. I came to the pool one day to see an athlete, who had already made a name on the international stage, looking like he or she had been hit by a bus. After a short conversation, this athlete looked at me with despair in the eyes and said, "I can't wait until this year is over."

The pressure of the expectations can cause even the strongest of athletes to have doubts and wonder if the process is worth it. Ultimately, it comes down to one thing: focus. The Olympic year is different; the ultimate goal is in reach, which for many can be daunting. Focus determines not only success, but also the enjoyment of the process.

Renowned sports psychologist Keith Bell stresses that it is important to have a long-term vision, but once that vision is set, it is the short-term goals that athletes must devote themselves to. "The weekly and daily goals you set will be the most important. They will need to be based on longer-term objectives. But once set, these short-term goals should be the major focus of attention for all concerned. They are the only goals you can do anything about at any given moment. As each opportunity presents itself, it becomes the only one available." (Bell, 1989)

Having the ability to focus on the task at hand is one of the biggest reasons that greatness is achieved. Take the New England Patriots' quest for the perfect season. Most, including Head Coach Bill Belichick and the Patriots players themselves, feel that the reason they have been able to accomplish what they have has been their ability to look no farther ahead than the next game.

One of the Patriot players shared his head coach's philosophy. "He sees about two feet in front of him, and that's it," wide receiver Jabar Gaffney said. "When he talks about not looking at anything but the team in front of us, he means it." (Pasquarelli, 2007)

Dean Smith, the legendary college basketball coach of the University of North Carolina, shared this same outlook with his teams at the start of each season. "Instead of writing down a smorgasbord of goals, I was more specific. I wanted us to have as a goal improving ourselves each day and treating each opportunity to practice as a privilege. I wanted the players to stay in the present and not look so far into the future that they lost focus of what was important to accomplish that day.,, (Bell, Kilgo & Smith, 2004).

Susie O'Neill, during her storied swimming career that included three Olympic Games, dealt with many challenges and obstacles. In her book Choose to Win, she offers athletes words of advice on where they should put their concentration. "Always set realistic goals and aim at your level. It is amazing how when you continue to concentrate on immediate goals and achievements, one day you will suddenly find yourself there at the big goal. Never set goals that seem too daunting because success is a gradual process, and you gain pleasure every time you take another step."

Doing It Better

Going into the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Canada's chances of medaling are realistic, and dealing with those expectations can be difficult.

"I think that is the biggest danger that Canada could face right now," explains Coach Paul Bergen. "I think unconsciously the coaches and the athletes, if they have an off performance on a day, are thinking that their chances six months from now are down the tube, rather than coming in today and doing the best job that they can.

"Focus too much on the long term, you are going to mess up not doing the right thing today; whereas, if you take care of today, tomorrow is going to take care of itself."

"You know, the Olympic year, so many people think `Oh I have got to do more.' It is not the year to change big things, it is the year to create an environment where people are happy, they are swimming fast and relaxed," says Pierre Lafontaine, CEO of Swimming Canada.

"I think small little steps will go a long way; with big steps you often trip. I think we have to do the same thing, but a lot better."

For many athletes, the Olympic Games represent a dream and a goal that they have had all of their lives. It is important to remember that a dream will only become reality if you take care of all the little things everyday.

References:

• Bell, Dr. Keith. Coaching Excellence. Austin, Texas: Keel Publications, 1989.
  Bell, Gerald D., John Kilgo, and Dean Smith. The Carolina Way. New York, NY: Penguin, 2004.
• Pasquarelli, L (2007) "With one game left, the Pats finally focus on 16-0," from the ESPN website http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?col umnist=pasquarelli len&id=3167454 accessed January 21, 2008

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