when the mind is strong, the body follows.
r o w e d l i k e H E L L
M A I N `
E N T R I E S `
L I N K S`
T A G B O A R D `
the pontoon.
E N T R I E S
Sunday, July 16, 2006
enlightened
before you read, i would like to apologise if i made it seem that i don't give a shit about medals. i do obviously. i'm happy that i've got my gold but it is not as superficial as what one may think. i'm not trying to be arrogant or haolian, i'm only giving my views.
so as i was saying, i just realised something. i've finally understood. it is not all about winning, not all about your gold or silver. the bitter part is the process but the sweetest part is not your medal. it is the PROCESS. i've gotten my gold and i realised that there's no big deal. serious. i'm not trying to act or what, i thought the ecstastic feeling would last longer but it didn't. what truly makes you happy, i guess, is winning for yourself, your team or for your school (doesn't apply to me though).
many fail to realise this point because they view winning as something far more important than anything else. and perhaps when you put in alot of effort in training and you lost your race, you will feel that the world is crushing down on you. that was how i felt last year when i got knocked out in HEATS for national schools. after the race, i was hanging between the decisions to either step down with the rest of the team or to continue canoeing.
i chose the latter in the end.
just feb, our k2 got silver in national kayak marathon. the feeling didn't last too long as well. i thought perhaps it was because i didn't get a gold. so what's the big deal about the gold now?
there was a gathering with the 04/05 senior team yesterday. had a little talk with euan. he too thought along the same line as me. when he got a bronze, he asked himself why didn't he pull faster harder to fight for silver or gold. then he realised that the medal he received was just a bonus.
it is for the team, for the ones who trained and fought so hard alongside with you. i know you will feel very demoralised very broken very empty when you didn't make it. now listen, every single one of the team appreciates your efforts. by training so hard and giving your best in the race, you've already done your part for us. because we're one team.
training together for a common cause is great. winning for the same reason is even greater.
guys, there's always another chance to get your medal(s) again. now that everything's over. sit down and look back. feel good because we did it, for you and me. even though canoeing is a more or less individual sport, we're training in a team, for the team. i believe such spirit is the best part of everything.
blood, sweat and tears.
sprinted at 10:43.
when the mind is strong, the body follows.
r o w e d H E L L
