With the delay of a year due to Covid, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics finally took place. For many of us watching in awe, this is but a dream. We watched a host of young Britain achievers competing on the world’s top stage. Adam Peaty in the pool, Laura Kenny on the bike and the amazing Matt Whitlock on the pommel horse all making it look easy. The magnificence and inspiration that has kept us captivated is not as easy as it looks even more so with the delay of a year and inability to train together. But what actually does it take to be an Olympian?
A good way to see if you have what it takes is to have a look at The Iceberg Illusion. There is a myth that you get to the success level instantly for the super-talented. It is about easy stardom because you where blessed with the physicality and mental strength to compete at this level.
In reality, this is not the case and the best way to test your endurance is to look underneath the water to see the resilience needed to take the journey pushing our potential and Going for Gold! No doubt talent and a bit of luck (especially on the day) are important, but it is the growth mindset – the idea that what we get out is ultimately about what we put in is what counts most! That mindset is what has propelled many of our greatest Olympians and has kept them going to compete event after event.
Can you deliver your best when it really matters? If you think yes, then these are 10 things you should do to get you on that podium.
1. Assess Your Physical Condition The first step is to determine what shape you are currently in. If there is work to be done, then start now. Also, have a look on the teamgb.com website for tips.
2. Choose a Sport Many athletes select a sport based on what they enjoy doing. If you already have an athletic hobby, such as target shooting or judo, you are already one step ahead. If you are starting from scratch, you can find a list of Olympic sports by visiting the Tokyo 2020 site.
3. Find a Place to Train Join a local athletic club or visit a recreation centre so you can practice and take classes. Another good place to train, depending on your sport, is your local high school or university.
4. Join your National Governing Body A crucial step that will get you to the next level is to join your National Governing Body (NGB). The NGB conducts National Championships, maintains a National Team, and often supports various developmental programs for athletes.
5. Start Competing If you haven’t already started competing at the club stage, now is the time to do it. Your NGB hosts a variety of tournaments that start on the local level. It is important in many sports to build a national rating by competing at certain competitions.
6. Get a Coach This step should be taken at the same time as you start competing. A coach can help you develop your skills, so you can progress to the next level of your sport.
7. Visualize Your Success A training technique used by top athletes is visualization. According to one theory, if you see a perfect golf swing 1,000 times in your mind, its better practice than actually swinging the golf club 10,000 times.
8. Find Financing At some point you may be ready to start training full-time, which means you will have to find a way to support yourself financially. Elite level athletes have several options including: athletic scholarship, become a resident athlete at an Olympic Training Centre, or obtain corporate sponsorships.
9. Attend the National Championships Most NGBs run their National Championships in a similar format to the Olympic Games so it will be good practice for you.
10. Qualify for the Olympics Team sports (rugby 7s or soccer) tend to be chosen by the national coaching squad via their national reputation, national ranking or through results at competitions. Some sports also have an Olympic tryout.
Once you make it to the Olympics, you have achieved the dream of a lifetime so enjoy the experience and go for the gold!