The 2018 Winter Olympics might be over but once again I am filled with inspiration from everything I watched. These amateur athletes brought their best and left it all out there--on the slopes, in the half-pipe, on the ice...you name it. Watching them perform made me want to push myself harder on my runs.
Do you find inspiration from watching athletes push themselves at their sport, even if it isn't running? I found lots of inspiration these past 2 weeks.
Be fearless
Watching those snowboarders and skiers in the half-pipe kept me on the edge of my seat. All those jumps off the edge, the spins, and the flips--I kept thinking, how do they not hit the lip on the edge? The skiers flying down the slopes at top speeds--how do they do it? Sometimes you just have to throw caution to the wind and just go for it. If you want to be the best, you have to push out of your comfort zone. Nothing good ever happens there. Am I right?
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Jonny Weir brought his fabulous fashion sense to the commentator's booth and watching skating will never be the same--he was awesome. The Norwegian curling team had the best outfits at the Olympics, though, rivaling anything INKnBURN puts out there for us runners. I kind of loved it.
Just breathe
Olympic athletes are just like us! They get nervous before big events too! Just ask Mikayla Shiffrin. Her pre-event anxiety is well documented, and she's consulted a sports psychologist over the years to help her deal with her nerves. Prior to the Alpine slalom event, where Shiffrin was favored to win, she had an episode of vomiting. Imagine the pressure she must have felt, knowing she was supposed to win this event! Athletes are taught to draw on the adrenaline from their nervousness and direct it into their performance. After she failed to medal in this event, she cried. Then she talked about regrouping.
Go for the gold
No one goes to the Olympics with a plan to just finish. These are the best of the best and they are all in it to win it. Then there's Elizabeth Swaney. She just wanted to get there. An average skier from California, she used her Hungarian heritage to qualify for the Hungarian ski team, figuring out a way to qualify for the Olympic women's halfpipe without doing a single trick. Kind of like qualifying for Boston without running a marathon. Some might argue that she took a spot from a legitimate qualifier, but she didn't do anything illegal. If I could find a loophole so I could run Boston, I would.
Never give up
Nathan Chen was expected to win gold but after poor performances in the short and team skating events, he put it all out there for the free skate, landing 6 quads. He didn't medal, but there was no doubt in my mind that he gave his best effort.
Who's old?
Not Shawn White, age 31 and the grandpa of snowboarding, who won his 3rd gold medal in the halfpipe. He also showed that you can teach an old dog new tricks, laying down 2 1440s.
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Adam Rippon said, "I might not be the best, but I'm always the most fun." He's really comfortable in his own skin and is unapologetically himself. Why work so hard if you can't have fun with it? If you need proof of his hilariousness or need a laugh, check out his twitter account.
Finishing is winning
Mexican XC skier and Ironman athlete German Madrano came in 26 minutes behind everyone else but with the Mexican flag over his head, he was smiling as he crossed the finish line. He brought it in to much applause by all the other back of the packers!
What inspired you this year as you watched the Olympics? Any lessons or stories that you'll take to the road? What about the skier who used loopholes to get to the Olympics? Would you do it?
I'm linking up with Tuesdays on the Run: Marcia, Erika, and Patti as well as Running Coaches' Corner: Debbie, Rachel, and Lora.
I adore Johnny Weir. Honestly, I love the skating but he was the reason I kept coming back to watch more. The entire Olympics were fabulous this year.
ReplyDeleteI thought this year was better than usual! I don't know if it was the fun commentators? But it was completely entertaining.
DeleteI felt so bad for Nathan :( If he has just had a better short program, he would have definitely received a medal. His long program was amazing!!
ReplyDeleteAdam Rippon and Johnny Weir are my spirit animals - I simply love those two!
I wonder if Nathan had a case of the nerves. I can't believe how bad he skated on his short program. Glad he redeemed himself.
DeleteI honestly did not watch any of the Olympics. I prefer the summer Olympics with track and field and gymnastics.
ReplyDeleteI like both the winter and the summer Olympics!
DeleteI was totally inspired by all things Olympics (except for the curling...although it is an old, traditional sport, I think it's more like a physics event LOL). I did find it annoying how so many of the sportscasters immediately talked about the medal count for each country before highlighting any of the events. I later heard Lindsey Vonn make a comment that it was kind of an insult for all the focus on the medals instead of what it took for each athlete to actually get there (excuse my paraphrasing). All of the athletes amaze me; they are true role models in terms of not only their skills, but in their devotion and life-long commitment.
ReplyDeleteI thought the curling was so entertaining! It's a big sport in Wisconsin, so maybe that's the connection?
DeleteI love watching the Olympics and all of the inspiring stories behind the athletes. And hey, since I'll never qualify for Boston, I'm going to do a genealogy search today to see if I can somehow plant myself at the Tea Party!
ReplyDeleteWill you look for me too? :p
DeleteYes! I totally get inspired by watching the Olympics! I may or may not have signed up for this 2nd marathon while watching them ...while on my 2nd glass of wine! Lol Great post!
ReplyDeleteI was inspired but I wasn't THAT inspired! Holly tried her darndest to convince me to join you guys. Maybe I should have had more wine?
DeleteI love everything about the Olympics and feel sad when it is over.
ReplyDeleteThe background stories are as inspiring as the results...maybe more
I agree with you about the background stories! I get such a kick out the quirky stories.
DeleteAs a running/figure skating coach, I'm using lots of Olympic examples to inspire my athletes. Not the least of which was Mirai Nagasu who was removed from the 2014 Sochi team so Ashley Wagner could have the spot. A lesser person (me) would've walked away from the sport. Instead she came fighting back WITH A FRIGGING TRIPLE AXEL and earned another spot this year. If that's not inspiring, I don't know what is.
ReplyDeleteAnd she showed them, skating beautifully. But then there were her post skate comments....
DeleteI really enjoyed the Olympics this year and watched more than I ever had. Seeing so many athletes fall, get up, and keep on going made me realize that I could be pushing myself a tiny bit more.
ReplyDeleteI think this year was something special!
DeleteThat Mexican man is awesome!! I should do that for my races, carry my Mexican flag and come in with a huge smile on my face!
ReplyDeleteAdam Rippon was the bEST!!
I figured you'd like that Mexican XC skier story! Isn't that the best?
DeleteI loved watching the Olympics. Adam Rippon was great, and I loved how Nathan Chen didn't just give up and he really came back with that last event.
ReplyDeleteAdam Rippon owns the ice! He is so sassy.
DeleteThree were so many inspiring moments (USA winning cross country, for instance).
ReplyDeleteBut that emphasis on Gold or nothing in so many athletes' minds . . . I guess I get it, but I forget which sport it was, the guy who ripped his silver medal off as soon as they placed it around his neck . . . seriously, it really is an honor just to get there! Winning silver shouldn't be viewed with disgust. :(
Yeah, that is poor sportsmanship. But I guess when you are at that level, nothing but gold will do!
DeleteI know I watched more of the Winter Olympics in past years, but it was still fun to watch this year. I don't know how these athletes deal with the pressure the media gives them. If it was me, I'd be sick like Shiffrin.
ReplyDeleteYou and me both!
DeleteI definitely get inspired by the Olympics! I prefer summer to winter because of all the running but it's so incredible to watch these athletes perform these crazy stunts or ski at blazing speeds down a mountain. I love hearing the stories, too, of how they got there. That's what I like the most - the back story, their path, their struggle, their work. Goose bumps!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you--the story behind the story makes it so much more fun to watch!
DeleteI loved this year's Olympics and am definitely feeling inspired by them! The women's cross country ski team are my heroes right now.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you! XC skiing is so much like running. Those ladies were tough cookies!
DeleteI still can't believe that Chen did not medal with 6 quads. We watched as much of the Olympics as we could using NBC Sports on demand (HK did not broadcast because there was only one athlete and it is soooo expensive), but the app was not user friendly.
ReplyDeleteOh, that had to be tough to miss! Funny how we take what we see on TV for granted.
DeleteI did not watch as much of the olympics as I expected to. I love all of your take aways they are great motivation indeed.
ReplyDeleteI just felt so inspired by the athletes and all the stories!
DeleteLove, love, love this blog post. My biggest inspiration was Kikkan Randall and Jessie Diggins winning the first women's olympic gold in cross-country skiing. Kikkan tried for 20 years for gold: she never gave up!!! I watched the finish over and over and over! It was amazing.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.nbcolympics.com/video/usas-randall-diggins-win-historic-cross-country-gold?chrcontext=KTUU
oops my link didn't work, but if you haven't seen it, google it....so awesome :)
DeleteI did see the race and it was amazing!!!!
DeleteI didn't watch any of the games but did hear about the Mexican skier. Of course a happy moment. I loved hearing everyone's reaction. Everyone is a winner in the Olympic games.
ReplyDeleteI loved all the stories this year! I think NBC's coverage really knocked it out of the park.
DeleteI was obsessed with figure skating when I was a kid, but I've watched barely any of the last several Olympics. I should go look up the highlight reels at least!
ReplyDeleteYou should! This was a memorable Olympics!
DeleteI love Adam Rippon. I watch the Olympics for the human interest stories LOL.
ReplyDelete-MCM Mama
I don't usually like the drama behind the action but this year was different! They did a nice job not overdoing it.
DeleteI was SO inspired while watching the Olympics! I cannot wait to get back into really working out again!
ReplyDeleteI bet! You should be able to start again soon, right?
DeleteI LOVE this post Wendy!! The Olympics were and always are SO SO inspirational to me! Adam Rippon was AWESOME and he did such an amazing job! I hadn't ever heard of him before 2 weeks ago and now I'm obsessed! I also absolutely LOVED all of the other Olympics athletes and seeing their passion for their spot totally lit my fire. Loved it all!!
ReplyDeleteThis Olympics was so amazing!
DeleteWhat a great post. I love how you drew inspiration from a variety of events. Sadly, I barely watched the Olympics this year. I was in flu-hell for a good chunk of it.
ReplyDeleteUgh to the flu! I can't believe it ruined the Olympics for you!
DeleteThis is just great life advice all around - runners, athletes, even the non-athletic. :)
ReplyDeleteI feel like we can draw inspiration from any sport.
DeleteI had THE best time watching the Olympics this year. So much joy and passion. Love this post!
ReplyDeleteThank you! How could you not be inspired?
DeleteWhat a creative idea for a post! I admittedly didn't watch any of the Olympics because we don't have cable TV :/
ReplyDeleteOh no! There wasn't any other way to watch?
DeleteYES to all of this!!! I always get so much inspiration from the Olympics and the medalists are as important as the "failures" or back of the pack. I look at them and say "me too" because I know how it feels to fail the one day you have been working toward for a year...or in their case, their entire lives! It brings so much perspective and heart break and humanity. Thanks for highlighting it here!!
ReplyDeleteI just love the passion the athletes have for their sport! In a world where there is so much cynicism and apathy, the Olympics came at just the right time.
DeleteThese are all great tips! I love watching the Olympics and have been a little sad that it is over, so this was fun to read!! :-)
ReplyDeleteI was sad when it was over too! Now it's back to channel surfing.
DeleteI thought the women's cross-country race was so cool to watch! I was screaming for Team USA! Love the Olympics!
ReplyDeleteI loved that! Actually all the XC events were fun!
DeleteIce skating is my favorite Winter Olympics sport to watch. I am always inspired by their grace, beauty, and ability to entertain an audience while demonstrating superb athletic skills.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine doing what they do on the ice! I'd be a wreck!
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