Insights

A copy of the above image hangs in my office; an indelible reminder of competition, pursuit of greatness, victory and missed opportunity. In the above race from the 2016 Summer Olympics, a heated competition played out in the form of the Men’s 200M Butterfly gold medal race. In 2012, Chad le Clos, of South Africa, had taken victory from Phelps, winning gold in a race many assumed Phelps would dominate. Fast forward to 2016 and anticipation swirled as media coverage of this colossal rematch reached fevered pitch.

The race was a classic effort for Phelps, in a career marked by victory. Early in the race, there was a close heat of world class athletes. By the halfway point of the race, Phelps took the lead; a position he would not relinquish. After the final turn, le Clos could feel the distance growing. Throughout the last 50 meters, le Clos shifted his focus from turning in his best effort to watching Phelps pull away from the pack. Several times throughout that last length, le Clos can be observed looking directly at Phelps. At the end, not only does le Clos lose to Phelps, but he slips from second to fourth place…just off the podium.

There are many lessons that can be learned from this piece of Olympic history; here are a few.

Champions stay focused on their goal

Throughout the entire race, Phelps was focused on one thing: victory. At the end of the race, his focus was ultimately rewarded in the form of a gold medal. This truth then begs the question, “What are you focusing on?” Your purpose, passion, mission or vision should consume your time, attention, effort and mental energy, regardless of what that purpose is. In order to pursue that calling, like a champion, your eyes must always be on your target.

In the movie “A Knight’s Tale” a poor young squire poses as a member of nobility (Ulrich Von Lichtenstein) in order to compete in jousting tournaments. While he lacks formal training, his resolute passion cannot be ignored. While watching Ulrich in action his fiercest rival observes, “The slit in a helmet's visor is narrow but still, splinters can penetrate it. Most knights raise their chins at the last instant. You lose sight of your opponent, but you protect your eyes. This Ulrich doesn't.” Like Phelps, Ulrich stays focused on his target.

Distractions have consequences

Distractions are a fact of life. From moment to moment and day to day, a thousand and one circumstances cry out for your attention, demanding your time. In order to achieve success, it is vital to learn to face down these distractions. In the above race, le Clos could not maintain his focus in the final moments of the race. Not only did this cost him a possibility of victory, but it ultimately cost him an Olympic medal. Keep in mind that Phelps secured his win by a mere 0.04 of a second; the smallest margin of victory, for this race, in Olympic history. Champions learn to block distractions and perform in the moment. You can’t be great all the time, so be great when it is necessary.

Pursue your best

It is impossible to know what the outcome of this race would have been, had le Clos not lost his focus. However, it is fair to say that this was not his best race. I have always found it easier to accept defeat when I am confident that I held nothing back. If I have poured my whole being into a project, then I am able to accept that in that moment, my best may not have been enough. I am not left with the stinging question of “what if?” While consistently pursuing your best, victory of achievement is not always certain, but victory of principle is assured.

In “The Count of Monte Cristo” the main character, Edmond, shares the following insight, while toasting a young man on his birthday, “Life is a storm my young friend, you will bask in the sunlight one moment and be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes. You must look into the storm as you shout as you did in Rome. Do your worst for I will do mine. “

What other principles can you draw from this moment in Olympic history? Please share your thoughts; I would love to hear what you have to say!