As the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing China draw to a close, we’ve seen some amazing athletic feats from the athletes at these games. Most notably Michael Phelps, a native of my hometown of Baltimore, who went an unprecedented eight for eight in his quest for gold in the swimming competition. Congratulations to Michael and his US teammates who helped him achieve this marvelous accomplishment in Olympic perfection.When you consider a sport like competitive swimming and what it takes to achieve such perfection against the toughest competition in the world, you can’t help but realize how amazing it really is. In a sport where half a second is a vast amount of time, even the slightest slip or mistake can cost a competitor the race.
Alas, the Olympics is about more than medals and endorsement deals. It’s about more than pride for your country and proving you’re the best in the world. It’s really about dedicating your life to the pursuit of athletic ability. It’s about competing at the highest levels possible and being the best you can possibly be. It's about getting the most out of your body. Are you getting the most out of your body?
Athletic competition is a great way to motivate yourself, as long as you recall that it’s much more about the challenge than it is the victory. Regardless of the level you compete at, if you can give 100% of your effort in whatever sport or activity you choose (for any given time period), than you too can win like any gold medal Olympian. You may not receive a medal, but you will feel the victory in your heart just for competing.
Take a good look at the list of Olympic events and note the variety. Many of them come from ancient hunting or war-related activities, but many also revolve around more modern games (such as ping-pong and badminton). The possibilities for fun activities that you can use for motivation to get in shape and continue living an active, healthy lifestyle are nearly limitless.
So turn off the television and get out there are start your own active life.
