Marnie McBean's Blog, page 8

All in a (Olympic) Day

Posted in Marnie's Adventures

There are no easy ways to get to Sochi, so I was pretty pleased that my route was Pearson-Istanbul-Sochi; even with a 9 hour lay over I thought I’d scored. The Star Alliance lounge in Istanbul is one of the nicest I’ve been to and I knew it had a movie room and a huge wall with a bank of 9 TV’s. If I was going to be in transit during the Olympics – and particularly the final of Team Figure skating – I would be able to watch all the action all day.

You see, while I love being AT the Games, it’s very hard to know all the results and stories while you are there. I miss watching the profiles, hearing the post competition interviews, and the highlight montages that are always done so well. I left after the opening ceremonies and had gotten really used to watching it all.

I was pretty shocked to find that Turkish Airlines wouldn’t turn any of their TV’s to the Olympics. But if the best rule for a great Olympic performance is “have a plan, but don’t expect anything to go according to plan” then this was just another opportunity to put the rule to action. I called home and Deanah was able to put her computer on a stool, on an ottoman in front of our TV and Adam Parfitt (I was travelling with him to Sochi) and I streamed the CBC Olympic coverage via FaceTime for what seemed like hours. It was a pretty great way to start the trip, when some of the athletes that I love to chat with won a silver medal.

We landed in Sochi at 5am, and we’re at our hotel at 7am. Showered, had breakfast and walking by 10

10:30am – walk to Olympic park, validate spectator pass – This is one of many unique extra layers of Russian bureaucracy / security

11:30 – get to Canada Olympic House- An incredible resource for friends and family of the Canadian Olympic team. It is a meeting/resting/eating/celebrating space right in the heart of Olympic Park. It’s also the only place we can see the CBC coverage.

12:00 meet up with moms and dads of so many of the athletes I work with – they are all so proud!!

Meet up with our women’s snowboard cross. I’ve known Maelle and Dominque since 2006 in Turino- they have always been strong but they have been so dominant in the last few seasons. Even with her wrist in a cast Maelle is set to go with her trademark big smile and Dom – well, she feels so prepared and so ready – I could feel her energy radiating from her. That will be a great event to watch and I’m stoked that I have tickets.

2:00 watch men’s short track 1500m competition, where Charles Hamelin was inspiring as he controlled his races and took the gold in such a controlled fashion – (it’s rare to watch short track and get a sense that anyone has control!!). Awesome to watch with a group spirited Canadians.

3:00 – take a train to Khosta, where the Canadian team has a Performance Centre (an off site location of accommodation, offices and training and technical facilities)

4:00 – take a train to Rosa Khutor, have 7pm dinner at McDonalds (I never eat the stuff unless I’m at the Olympics! which always seems kind of backwards!)

9pm – watch the men’s moguls competition! How incredible was that! The Russians were excited because they had a guy in the top 5… But at one point it looked like the other 4 would be Canadians! Just incredible to watch Alex and Mikael take the gold and silver. Its such a different emotional journey to win again… I really appreciated the work and pressure that Alex was under. Also pretty cool to watch it with Adam vanKoeverden. He’s getting pretty inspired here to win again in Rio!

12am train back to the Coast

2am bed. What a packed first day.

How to ‘do’ the Olympics – nine tips from a vet

Posted in Mentor Messages

The Olympics are just days away and I am so excited for the Canadian Team. It’s been a privilege being part of their world and sending out these emails for the last 14 months.  This is the last of the regular messages – and as you can imagine – there is so much I’d like to say. Here, as briefly as I can are 9 suggestions from an Olympic veteran that I shared with the Canadian Olympic Team on how to have the performance that you’ve been training for – at the Olympics;

1. Marching in the Opening Ceremony is fun – but competing in the Olympics is what you’ve been training for. You’ve been working way to hard for that point, that 100th of a second, or that rotation to give it away to a parade. Be smart – perform to your potential.

a.   If you do choose to go – have an incredible time. Live it – you don’t need to film every second of it. Why waste a live 360* HD moment by seeing it through a smart phone or camera? Soak it in!

2.  There is no right or wrong way to be an Olympian. These are your Games – and will be your experience. Introvert or Extrovert; it doesn’t matter. If you love to take in the crowd and want to see your family then that is the right thing for you. For others, being in a “bubble” and filtering out the chaos is the best plan. Stick to your norm and respect the choices of your Teammates around you.

3.  Don’t think that you can get through the Olympics without noticing that you are at THE OLYMPICS! I suggest that you behave a bit like a gopher. Now and then pick up your head and take a good look at everything around you and then put your head back down, focus and drive toward your goal. Remember – the spectator’s experience will be of play and vacation; you are there to work!

4.  There is a difference between the Olympic Games and the Olympic Competition. Don’t lose your focus – or your rest – to what can seem like a carnival around you. In an Olympic Village there will always be someone up, or something going on in the lounges.  Again, stick to your normal patterns – go back to your room when you need to settle down.

5.  Don’t expect perfection from the Olympic organizers. This is an event that involves well over 20,000 people to make it work – and there has been no test run. Expect some glitches in transportation, food, and even accommodation. Know that these will all get worked out, they always do.

6.  Try to stick to routines. If you normally hang out or eat with your team, try to still do that; make plans to eat or travel together. Routine is really comforting in a new or stressful environment.

7.  As the Games progress, there will be less and less stress and tension in the air. If you compete towards the end- expect that there will be a ‘lightness’ and decreasing sense of focus from those around you. Even in a respectful environment – that’s just normal release for those who are post-competition. (Remember: “Use Expectation as a Weapon”)

8.   Be careful of boredom. At the Olympics – there usually isn’t much to do. Hopefully the TV will have lots of English & French coverage. If you arrive before the Games start – there will be NOTHING on!

a. Don’t eat yourself out of a medal.

b. Take note of how much you walk. If you don’t normally walk a lot you can be surprised by how much you are on your feet at an Olympics.

c.  Going to and cheering at an event can be exhausting.

d.   Careful ‘blowing-off’ your nervous energy by doing something out of character. It could be that you’ve been tapering for days to harness that energy for use in your competition.

9.  Put your “Out of Office” notice up now and respect it. Your email and voice mail should all say something along the lines of ‘Thanks for contacting me. If it’s about an interview please contact my media attaché. If it’s about an event or appearance – I will not be managing any requests until after the Games…Thanks for your support – Go Canada Go!”  It’s in your own best interest if you apply this even to media and others who have always been very friendly and usually have direct contact with you.

Please respect all of your teammates and their schedules. As some of you return from training or competition quite late – others might be having their biggest day of their lives in the morning. Morning people – take the same care for those who nap mid day – before the biggest night of their lives.

Your team is Fierce, Proud, Unstoppable, Stoked and Inspired.

– Again – I’m so excited for you all,

Sincerely

Marnie

The media has pre-Games stress and distraction too

Posted in Marnie in the News

On Jan 29th, I did another TV interview on my mentoring and the security threat from the athletes perspective. Recently, I’ve been asked a lot by the media how athletes are dealing with the distraction of the current ‘security threat’. This makes me laugh – because it seems to me that it’s the media who are the most distracted by it.While a major threat from inside the host nation is different that any of the pre-Games news stories that I can recall – I do believe that the scale of the hype around security can be chalked up to the media’s own pre-Games freak out. At the Olympics, there will be over 10,000 media representatives with almost 100 nations around the world following the Games. Globally the Games promise to take up the lion’s share of February’s news chatter. 

Waiting to start is when we are our most uncomfortable; nobody trains for that. Right now – all those media people are waiting for something “Olympic” to happen so that they can have an opinion and talk about it. But until the Opening Ceremony, and then when the first medals are presented, all these media people need to fill space. Before the London2012 Games it was traffic, before the Vancouver2010 Games it was weather, Beijing2008 was air quality (and human rights)… and the list goes on.

Without question it is prudent to be concerned about the current situation in Russia. Athletes aren’t blind to what’s going on but they have been trained to control the controllables and focus on their task. At this time, they are focused on their sport performance and are increasingly blocking out everything else. This includes logistical issues, social media discussions, friends and family distractions, as well as sponsor and media distractions. Athletes have very talented support teams around them; their coaches, national sport federations and the Canadian Olympic Committee who’s responsibility is to be aware of potential security threats, have an emergency plan and ‘watch the athlete’s back’ so they don’t have to.

CTV News Channel: The Olympic experience : Mentor Marnie McBean explains her role as an Olympic athlete and how to prepare an athlete for the pressure of the games.

Here is the link for the 5min discussion I had on this….

Going to Sochi – a chat with Matt Galloway (CBC radio)

Posted in Marnie in the News

On CBC radio – Metro Morning
 January 28, 2014

Olympic Mentor
With so much bad press coming out of Russia, how do you keep athletes focused on the podium, and not the controversies? Matt Galloway spoke with three-time Olympic champion, Marnie Mc Bean. She is the author of “The Power Of More”.

Listen  (runs 6:31)
(Note- My apologies – if I knew how to embedded this file and NOT autoplay – I would have. MMcB)

Hidden Impact of Mentoring

Posted in Mentor MessagesWhat I'm thinking (Thoughts and opinions)

Soon I will go to Sochi to continue my work as a mentor to the Canadian Olympic Team. It will be the ninth Olympic Games that I’ve attended, my fourth as a mentor. I’ve been working with some of the Canadian winter athletes since before the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics and I’ve watched them mature from wide-eyed Olympic rookies to Sr. veterans, multi-medalists and Olympic Champions. They have become fabulous athletes and community citizens: there are so many incredible career champions among them. They now, are the role-models and mentors and I am so proud to have had the chance to work with them.

While in Sochi there is no plan for me to be on TV; I’m not there to be a spokesperson or an analyst. My role is to continue to be part of the Canadian Team’s preparation. Much of what I do is subtle and behind the scenes. All the athletes have access to professional mental performance consultants (often sport psychologists) that help them with specific field of play issues. They have coaches and team mates who are with them and support them daily. The mentoring I do is done in broad strokes; I pop in and out of camps and meetings, I send emails, or we exchange txts. I know I don’t connect with everyone on the team but that’s okay, everyone wants and needs different support and guidance. Often I explain my role like this- I offer to take the horses to water; if they drink, or how much they drink, is up to them. Throughout the year I am one of their many resources.  

When I first started going to the Olympics in this role it was a huge shift for me. To be frank - it felt odd that it wasn’t about my goals; I was at the Olympics but not part of an Olympic performance. As an athlete my training and preparations had all been about building and then executing my Olympic performance. Now, as a mentor, I don’t build anything at the Games – I will have contributed some ‘tools and bricks’ (grains of rice? ) and it’s up to the athletes (and their coaches) to do all the building. I’ve changed my perspective on the importance of roles like mine, and now, I get it. It doesn’t have to be about “me” or “my”.

Now I contribute to preparation: I proudly observe performance. I’ve shifted my perspective.

I truly believe, in every environment, knowledge is power. Confidence, strength, and the magical concept of ‘flow’ come from being able to access answers, particularly when we are challenged by our own “Can I? Will I?” moments. Mentoring is not about passing along my answers, I hope to teach the people that I’m working with how to be open and aware so that they can find their own answers.

Since I’m not always present for the conversations that my email messages are intended to start it’s easy for me to wonder about my impact. Can one grain/ tip – or even a few – make a difference? I think teachers and other mentors must wonder this from time to time too. How do I know if I’m making a real difference? Can I measure this? When I began mentoring I was discouraged by how little feedback I got. I almost stopped. But when feedback comes, whether it’s been by the penny or the pound, it’s made me feel so good. I realize that even one grain can make a big difference in the biggest of buckets.

There have been some tweets and emails lately that continue to me so proud of the work I do. They remind me that there is an impact, even if it’s often hidden, to being a mentor and sharing what I know and feel. I am so grateful.

“Expectation is a weapon” thanks @MarnieMcB i love each & every email. so informative. reassuring to know you have our backs @CDNOlympicTeam

— Kaillie Humphries (@BobsledKaillie) November 2, 2013

This is why I like our @CDNOlympicTeam athlete mentor @MarnieMcB so much. pic.twitter.com/HEYof8iPdl — Denny Morrison (@Denny_Morrison) January 17, 2014

Just awesome starting every month with the @MarnieMcB newsletter magic in my inbox. #feelingOlympic #ThanksCOC #mentor — Chandra Crawford (@ChandraCrawford) January 1, 2014

@MarnieMcB gives #TessaAndScott some advice tonight on @w_network at 8pm E/P pic.twitter.com/LWIRW721AZ — Tessa & Scott (@TessaScottOnW) January 9, 2014

An email from Kaitlyn Weaver (Figure Skating, Dance)

“I know you know how much of an impact you’ve made on me thus far, but I just wanted to say THANK YOU one more time. You said that this would make us bigger and stronger, and you were right. Now here we are, four years later vying for a medal.. just like you also predicted. Thank you for shining the light for me. “

And this one from a while back…

I’ll recommend this read before I even get to read it based on the impact @MarnieMcB had on me going into the Games https://t.co/GW5AmMhn

— Ashleigh McIvor (@ashleighmcivor) January 24, 2012

[Random note - The black eye in one of tweet pictures was the result of playing fetch with our dog, Bernice. I reached for the ball just as she jumped. A dog's head trumps an eye socket every time! It was a doozy of a shiner - my first. ]

Setting and keeping YOUR goals

Posted in What I'm thinking (Thoughts and opinions)

One week into 2014 and, if you’ve set a (or some) resolution(s) you should be 7 days in. Just curious…How’s that going for you?!  Statistics on sticking to New Years resolutions are terrible! Depending on what source you look at – the success rate can be only 5-15%.  Come on! we can do better than that! 

Actually starting a task can be the hardest part – I get it – but personally, I don’t understand why people wait until Jan 1. to begin any goal. Goal-achieving can be hard enough without letting the start of the Gregorian Calendar be what pushes your start button. I believe that using the calendar to inspire action is like using a false friend for a buddy; in a pinch – will they go out of their way to back you up when you need it?  You want to start something? Start it! You want to change something? Change it!

As you progress it should feel as if you are making choices – not sacrifices.

I’m not saying having New Years Resolutions is wrong. I suppose if having a deadline to finish a goal works so well for me, then having a deadline to start a goal can work for others. In either case, I believe the key to success is in the ownership of the goal itself. No goal will be easy to achieve, but if you believe the goal is yours, something you-want-for-you, then the easier it is to stay committed to. (ex. If a child wants to learn/play a sport/instrument then they are far more likely to stay committed to the training than a child whose parents want them to play that sport/instrument. Or… A person has to want to quit smoking for them self first. The goal of quitting because other people want you to, or you think other people want you to is so much harder.  )

Did you set a goal just to set it?                                             Really Tough to stick to  
Is it someone else’s goal?                                                        Harder to stick to     
Did you wait for someone to start/push you?              Hard to stick to
Is it your own goal?  (set for and by you)                         Easier to stick to
Did you instigate the start and ‘jump in’?                       Easier to stick to    
Are you genuinely passionate about the goal?             Practically easy to stick to

 

The more involvement you have in the initial planning, instigation and performance of a goal the more motivation, commitment and accountability you’ll have as you progress along your goal-achieving path. When that is the case, as you progress it should feel as if you are making choices that will help achieve your goal – not that you are making sacrifices that will ‘ruin your day’. This isn’t exclusive to adults. Too often I hear stories where parents have, with best intentions, taken care of all of the planning, the start date and even a lot of the ‘tricky’ or more challenging elements of a goal/task that belongs to their child and then they wonder why their child has no commitment to it. 

A lot of what I do as a speaker and mentor is about helping people stay connected to their goals and to embrace the natural ups and downs that come with applying their ambition. My book, The Power of More; How Small Steps Help Us Achieve Big Goals  is designed to help everyone stick to and achieve their goals, regardless of the goal’s size.  I can’t help but think that it’s the perfect time of year for me to share an excerpt or two.  I appreciate every copy that is purchased. Thank you. 

Best wishes for all of 2014′s goals,

Marnie

The following are two short excerpts from The Power of More; How Small Steps Help Us Achieve Big Goals. 
Published by Greystone Books.  Widely available in book and ebook formats.
Goal Setting – It All Starts Here

If you’ve set yourself a big goal, or a long-term one, sooner or later it’s going to get difficult. There will be mental, physical, and emotional challenges every step of the way. If the goal is a passion goal, something you need to do, then it doesn’t matter what the challenge is: you will remain hungry to try. Your ambition and drive will continue to push you to learn and do more. Your passion won’t allow you to be content with your current status.

Some goals need a lot of energy and ambition, others just a little. A passion goal can sometimes fade into something you just want, or maybe you realize it’s more someone else’s goal than your own. Either way, the natural evolution for many goals is that at some point you will run out of the ambition needed to keep you spinning for more. When your goal becomes something you barely even want to do, it is easy to notice everything you are missing out on—the sacrifices. It’s more likely to feel like a burden.

This is another reason why it is so important, when setting goals, that you be clear why you are (re)setting, and accepting, a goal. Is it really your goal? Are you prepared to embrace it as your goal? Even easy goals require some ambition and effort, and that’s going to have to be applied by you. It’s not likely that you’ll know all of the details at the outset, but it’s important to have some idea of what you are getting yourself into. If you willingly choose to go forward, then the challenges that will follow will be easier to embrace. In the absence of choice, when challenges pile up, you can become bitter about all that you aren’t doing—your sacrifices—instead of being engaged by the effort and rewards of what you have chosen to do.

If the goal is simply something you want, then your level of confidence plays a bigger role. Because confidence naturally waxes and wanes, when you are setting your goal, you need to develop a specific vision about what is important to you. When your level of confidence is low, you tend to lose some of your ambition. You then question how hard a bit more might be rather than paying attention to how much you want to achieve your goal. The thought of the effort blocks the connection to the goal. Are you willing to risk disappointment or failure? If you know how much you want to achieve the goal, and even why you want it, you may be willing to give a bit more.

People often use past failures to put limits on themselves. But failing once does not mean failing forever. Anything worthwhile is likely going to be hard. Your previous expe- riences should be used as a tool to help you understand the challenges you now face, not as a weapon to discourage you from trying.

….

Developing a Plan

The first step to achieving your goal is developing a plan that outlines the path you will follow to achieve your dream. That path is your task. The second thing you need to convert those dreams into goals and achieve them is ambition. It is the magic that actually starts you moving; everything is still just an idea until you apply ambition and actually try.

Ambition drives us and unsettles us. We watch, learn, listen, and respond based on our ambition. It compels us to try harder or try more. Having dreams and creating goals for ourselves is fun, but it’s not until we start applying our ambition to them that they become real and we start moving toward achievement.

Some people are very ambitious; others, not so much. That’s just part of what makes us who we are. The amount of ambition applied to a goal determines how driven and hungry to improve and achieve we are—or aren’t. Big goals require big doses of ambition, but ambition can also be applied to goals in small, conservative doses. Imagine that we have our own pot of ambition and that we can choose how we want to spread it around. Do we put it all toward just one or two goals? Or do we multi-task and spread it among many? Again, that is up to each individual and makes each of us who we are. When it comes to ambition, there is no right or wrong.

“Had I known the size of the task, it could very well have discouraged me from ever starting.”

So why is setting a path to achieve your goals important? As Yogi Berra said, “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” And I’ll add—or nowhere at all. It’s easier to apply your ambition to the goal-setting path, which is something you can actually work on, instead of the final goal. I’ve seen too many people who are frustrated because they want to do or be something—but they haven’t taken the time to figure out what or how.

If I had mapped out my initial plan to get to the Olympics, it might have been as straightforward as this:

1 Find sport and learn it

2 Make club team

3 Make senior national team

4 Perform better and faster than everyone else

5.Win at Worlds and Olympics

I had a path; I knew my task. The first day I took a learn- to-row class, my dream became my goal.

It amazes me to think back and realize that this was how simple I thought my path was—I was so naive! But it had to start somewhere, and sometimes starting is the hardest part. The inertia of doing nothing can be very difficult to overcome. As I progressed and learned more about what was required, I understood that I needed to add many (many!) more images to this path in order to achieve my goal—but I had started. And, as the law of inertia says, a body in motion tends to stay in motion. The more I learned, the more I learned that there was still more to learn. (And just as a body at rest tends to [contentedly] stay at rest, the less you know, the less you are aware what there is to know—which is why some auditions on tv talent shows are so hilarious! Some people really have no idea how much they don’t know or how bad or off key they are!)

The number of actual steps required to achieve each of my initial steps grew exponentially as I went along my path. There were levels of club teams, levels of national teams, and levels of performance on the world and Olympic stage to master. The complexity of technique, improved fitness, advanced strategy, team selection and politics, life balance, health maintenance, and stress management was unimaginable to me as I began. Which is just as well, because had I known the size of the task, it could very well have discouraged me from ever starting.

When creating a path to achieve any goal, it is not immediately necessary to know the details of the last steps. Chances are, by the time you get close to achieving the goal, you will have had to adjust and update your path numerous times. What you do need when creating the path is to be very clear about your first step, the task that you need to work on today. As you progress, you will learn the details for the steps required in the future.

Prep’ing for battle with the Big Bad Wolf

Posted in Mentor Messages

     As the year 2014 begins – to many it is the first day of 365, but to the group of athletes that I work with it means that there are just 37 days until they begin the biggest test of their lives. As spectators, we see a collage of personal interest stories, a concern for social and security issues and we can’t wait to see the Olympic drama unfold. The sincerity, genuine emotions, and consequence of Olympic sport is hard to match. The athletes who will be competing there – they FEEL the Games approaching; their hearts beat faster with anticipation, their eyes gleam at the thought of what could be and they catch their breath knowing that there will be no second chances.

      I want nothing more than for our Canadian Team to know that they are ready when they get to Sochi. Even though each Olympic experience is one-of-a-kind, I believe that sharing with them the experiences of athletes who have walked their path before them is the best tool for them to make their own choices and live up to their potential. For that reason – I chose a story that is all about learning, improving and beating the “big bad wolf”.  

     In all of our lives we have a “big bad wolf”. That challenge that ‘huffs and puffs’ – pushing and challenging us. In a perfect world we’d never receive a scratch, but on most goal achieving paths we’d have to admit that the wolf might blow down a few of our houses. That’s okay, as long as we take each ‘battle’, learn from it and come back stronger. That’s how, in the end we ‘win the war’ and achieve our goals.

Happy New Year, Marnie

 

Happy New Year!  ( La version française suite )

Four years ago I had Brian Stemmle, 4x Alpine Olympian speak to the Figure Skating team. He was a huge hit. His story had incredible impact on them and I’d like to recount it for you.I love Brian’s career story – it has all the key bits of an intense drama; podium finishes, a torso-ripping-pelvis-snapping-near-death fall and an incredible comeback. Respectfully, I can’t help but think that my friend’s Olympic prep story closely resembles the fable of the Three Little Pigs, which is really is about learning from set-backs and challenges and getting better and stronger with each successive try.

The Pigs built houses – learning from each attempt, they built of straw, then wood and finally it was the brick house that was able to withstand the ‘huff and puff’ of the ‘big bad wolf’.  Brian didn’t need to defend against a wolf; he was preparing his mind and body for the Olympic Games. In his story he prepared ‘sort of’, ‘too much’, and then finally  ‘just right’.

Brian’s first Olympic experience was in Calgary. He was a young athlete and thought “Meh. I race all the time. The Olympics will be just another race.” When he got there he was surprised to discover that it WAS different and it DID mean more than other races. He wasn’t ready like the other racers were; and like the straw house – he got blown away.His second Olympics were in Albertville. Having learned that the Olympics are bigger and different he kept trying to do something ‘Olympic!’ that season. With no real progression plan, he trained and/or raced with constant reckless abandon. The result was that when he got to the Games he was injured, and again, like the wood house, his dream was blown away.

     The Lillehammer Olympics were just around the corner. Brian had learned from past performances and for these Games he created a plan. He wanted to arrive at the Games healthy with no injuries so that he could do something ‘Olympic’ there. To ensure this, his new plan avoided a lot of risk. A downhill racer’s spirit thrives on risk, so when he got to his Olympic race he was healthy but he hadn’t honed the courage that he needed to succeed. Once again, sadly – his dreams were blown away.

Finally his ‘house of bricks’! After 14 years of international racing and 3 Olympic Teams Brian figured out the best way to do something Olympic at the Olympics was to make that level of commitment part of his every day. For months, as he prepared for the Nagano Games he kept a picture of the medals in his pocket. This was a constant reminder that Olympic days would be the result of his every day. His training – on and off the snow- his visualization, and everything else he did reflected his bold plan – and he was committed to it every day.I really wish this story finished with Brian on the podium – that really would keep this as a great fable – but unfortunately that’s not the case. The battle for that Alpine downhill medal was an incredible story. Featured by the great Olympic film-documentarian Bud Greenspan in ‘Nagano – 16 days of Glory’ it saw delays, two days of postponements, numerous heli-vacs off the mountain and countless skiers– including the legendary Herman Maier – literally flying off the course.

On that day, Brian proved that the foundation of his training could stand against it all. His preparation had been absolutely Olympic.

Three gates from the finish, having led at every timing interval a rut, that I’m sure Brian sees again and again in his heart and his mind, pushed him off course. No hero’s finish, but Brian never looks back at those Games thinking he wasn’t ready. The heart breaking result is his forever, but a lifetime of regret is not. He is – as he should be – extraordinarily proud of his preparation.

As I said – It would be great if this story finished with Brian on the podium. Even so, it still has an incredibly important message.

The Olympics ARE different, and if you want to do something ‘Olympic’ at the Olympics, then believing that you can has to be part of your every day.

The layers of learning…

1) The Olympics ARE different, and if you aren’t open to that – you risk being blown away.

2) Stick to your plan – random moments of reckless intensity – can see all of your preparation blown away.

3) Don’t put yourself in a box – don’t start hiding and waiting – you risk losing your courage.

4) Know that you are doing everything you need to do. You have been doing more and more every day for weeks and months and years. Get ready to blow them all away.

You are Fierce, Proud, Unstoppable, Stoked and Inspired.

Enjoy the New Year!

Marnie

Les trois petits cochons.

Bonne année!

Il y a quatre ans, j’avais demandé à Brian Stemmle, quadruple olympien en ski alpin, de s’adresser à l’équipe de patinage artistique. Il a connu un énorme succès. Son histoire a réellement touché les membres de l’équipe de patinage, et j’aimerais vous la raconter.

J’aime l’histoire de la carrière de Brian, car elle comporte tous les éléments clés d’un film dramatique : des podiums, un accident qui lui a causé une blessure au tronc, qui lui a brisé le bassin et qui a failli lui coûter la vie et un retour incroyable. Avec tout le respect que je lui dois, je ne peux m’empêcher de penser que l’histoire olympique de mon ami ressemble de très près au conte des « Trois petits cochons », dont le thème central est d’apprendre de ses échecs et de ses difficultés afin de devenir meilleur et plus fort à chaque tentative.

Les petits cochons ont construit des maisons, ont tiré des leçons après chaque essai : ils en ont construit une en paille, puis une autre en bois et enfin, c’est la maison de briques qui a pu résister au souffle du « grand méchant loup ». Brian ne s’attendait certainement pas à se défendre contre un loup; il préparait son esprit et son corps pour les Jeux olympiques. Dans son histoire, il s’est « plus ou moins », « trop » et enfin « suffisamment » préparé.

La première expérience olympique de Brian a eu lieu à Calgary. Jeune athlète, son raisonnement a été le suivant : « Je participe tout le temps à des compétitions. Les Jeux olympiques ne sont qu’une compétition de plus. » Lorsqu’il est arrivé aux Jeux, quelle ne fut pas sa surprise de découvrir que les Jeux olympiques ÉTAIENT différents et qu’ils ÉTAIENT beaucoup plus importants que les autres compétitions! Il n’était pas aussi prêt que les autres skieurs, et tout comme la maison de paille, il a été démoli.

Ses deuxièmes Jeux olympiques furent ceux d’Albertville. Ayant appris que les Jeux olympiques étaient plus grands et qu’ils étaient différents, il a essayé de faire quelque chose « d’olympique » au cours de la saison. Sans réel plan de développement, il s’est entraîné et a concouru avec un abandon total. Il est arrivé aux Jeux blessé, et encore une fois, comme la maison en bois, son rêve s’est effondré.

Alors que les Jeux olympiques de Lillehammer se profilaient à l’horizon, Brian, qui avait tiré des leçons de ses performances passées, avait créé un plan pour ces Jeux. Il voulait arriver à ces Jeux en santé et sans blessures pour être en mesure de réaliser une performance « olympique ». Pour y parvenir, son nouveau plan évitait tous les risques. Les skieurs alpins sont motivés par le risque, aussi lorsqu’il est arrivé à la compétition olympique, il était en santé, mais il n’avait pas développé le courage nécessaire pour réussir. Une fois de plus, malheureusement, ses rêves se sont évanouis.

Finalement, il a construit sa « maison de briques »! Après avoir concouru pendant 14 ans sur la scène olympique et fait partie de trois équipes olympiques, Brian s’est rendu compte que s’il voulait réaliser une performance olympique aux Jeux, il fallait un engagement quotidien. Pendant des mois, alors qu’il se préparait pour les Jeux de Nagano, il gardait une photo des médailles dans sa poche. Il voulait se rappeler constamment que les journées olympiques seraient le résultat de son travail quotidien. Son entraînement — sur la neige et ailleurs — ses exercices de visualisation, et tout ce qu’il a fait étaient le reflet de son plan inébranlable, qu’il s’était engagé à respecter à tout prix.

Je voulais vraiment que cette histoire se termine avec un podium pour Brian – ce qui en ferait un formidable conte – mais malheureusement ce n’est pas le cas. La bataille pour les médailles en descente a été assez épique. Cette compétition, qui figure dans l’excellent documentaire de Bud Greenspan, « Nagano – 16 days of Glory », a vu des retards, deux jours de renvois, de nombreuses évacuations par hélicoptère et d’innombrables skieurs – y compris le légendaire Herman Maier – s’envoler littéralement de la piste.

Ce jour-là, Brian a prouvé que grâce à son entraînement, il pouvait tout affronter. Sa préparation a été absolument olympique.

À trois portes de la ligne d’arrivée, après avoir mené la compétition à chaque intervalle, une ornière que, selon moi, Brian voit et revoit jusqu’à présent dans son cœur et dans sa tête, l’a fait sortir de la piste. Ce ne fut pas une finale héroïque, mais Brian n’est jamais revenu sur ces Jeux en se disant qu’il n’était pas prêt. Ce résultat crève-cœur ne s’effacera jamais, mais ce qui est sûr, c’est qu’il n’a pas de regrets. Brian est – comme il se doit – extrêmement fier de sa préparation.

Comme je l’ai mentionné, ce serait formidable que cette histoire finisse avec un podium pour Brian. Toutefois, elle est quand même porteuse d’un important message.

Les Jeux olympiques SONT différents, et si on veut réaliser une performance olympique aux Jeux olympiques, alors tous les jours il faut croire qu’on peut y arriver.

Les leçons à retenir…

1) Les Jeux olympiques sont différents, et si vous ne faites pas preuve d’ouverture, vous risquez de vous effondrer.

2) Cantonnez-vous à votre plan, car des moments de forte intensité éparpillés ici et là pourraient contribuer à annuler toute votre préparation.

3) Ne vous enfermez pas dans un cocon : ne vous cachez pas pour attendre, car vous risquez de perdre votre courage.

4) Sachez que vous faites tout ce que vous devez faire. Pendant des semaines, des mois ou même des années, vous en avez fait chaque jour davantage. Préparez-vous à tenir tous vos concurrents en haleine.

N’oubliez pas que vous êtes féroces, fiers, invincibles, ‘stoked’ et inspirés.

Je vous souhaite une heureuse année!

Marnie

 

Who keeps a done list? We all should. – A Year in Review

Posted in Mentor Messages

December always brings with it an onslaught of “Looking Back”, “Year in Review” or “Best of 20??” lists.

It never fails to amaze me how much that we can ‘forget’ happened in a particular year. When there is so much that we still want to get done remembering all the day-in and day-out work that we have accomplished is difficult. We often get so fixated on the work that is in our ‘to-do’ pile that we forget (and disregard) the work that is in our ‘done’ pile.

I’m not suggesting that anyone stop actively pursuing his or her to-do pile.  To come full stop, throw a “look-how-much-I’ve done” party and dwell exclusively on one’s own ‘done’ pile can lead dangerously toward entitlement. I believe entitlement is the antithesis of hard work and thus performance.

The challenge is to keep looking and moving forward and to stay connected with all that you’ve accomplished in the past. (hmmm. There’s that “Jammed Cat” again! See the video.)

Staying connected to the volume of work that we’ve already done and the tasks that we have accomplished helps us manage the stress that we put on ourselves as we push forward. Each of the tasks in our ‘done’ pile accumulates like a ‘grain of rice filling a cup’. They all contribute to our confidence as we continue to push forward and through our increasingly busy and challenging ‘to-do’ list; so why would we ever forget a single one?

Since January of this year, I’ve been writing a monthly mentor message that is directed at athletes and their support team who have been training for the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. Their preparations began well before this series started but my goal was to become another resource for them to know that they are part of a bigger team, that they are not alone in their highly ambitious efforts and (I can’t stress this one enough -) that it is normal people like them who accomplish incredible things. The goal is for them to be absolutely comfortable with all of their ambitions.

With that in mind – I’ve jumped to the front of the “Year in Review line. Possibly the first of the year, (I still like being first )  Have a great December,

Marnie

Mentor Messages – A Year in Review

french version follows

Wow. It’s December! Crazy to think that the next message that I send to you will be in 2014!

You have done an incredible amount of work in 2013. You have grown, matured and you are undoubtedly way better now than you were at a year ago. Be proud of all that you have done and learned, and keep at it!

I started this year by saying that inspirations and ideas come from everywhere. That has been the point of all the emails in this message series – they are designed to be talking points — my goal has been to get you thinking. Whether you have agreed or not, I always love hearing back from you – that has been when I have learned the most –Thank you. As each year wraps up there is a litany of ‘year-in-review’s’ and in this note – I’ll get a jump on all them all with highlights of the 2013 mentor messages!

But first – a quick heads-up. Take note of how much time you might feel you have until Dec.25th. 25 days gives you lots of time to gift shop and prepare for Christmas (if that is what you choose to do).  2014, and to be specific February 7, 2014, are indeed close, but you still have lots of time to get lots done: Stay calm and carry on.

Here are the highlights of the 2013 mentor messages. Each message is hyperlinked if you want more detail. Have a great December!

 

January – Happy New Year

Stress exists only in the presence of ambition
Continue to ambitiously plan big because there is little joy celebrating a mediocre goal.

 

February – Time and Action

In a very healthy way – just before the Olympics you will wonder if you have done enough – Be comfortable and confident with the tools that you have and use them to their full potential.
Try and see the weaknesses that others see in you and then simply, day by day, work to make them strengths. Work on your strengths to make them stronger. Be curious, bring your team along with you and rise up to a new level. Let people push you like hell.

 

March – Nice to know vs Need to know

Remember to separate the nice to know bits of ‘Russian experience’ that will be outside the Olympic ‘fences’ from the need to know pieces of ‘Olympic experience’ that you want to have inside them.

 

April – Never Stop learning – the secret

Nothing helps you win more than simply being better – better than you were yesterday, better than they will be tomorrow.

 

June – The sugar rush of a great conference.

The Olympic Excellence Series came to an incredibly successful conclusion on May 12th. You said it provided inspiration, motivation, team bonding – via shared experiences and emotions… Wow– you are part of a TEAM!
Have as much fun as you can. Take the weight off trying to prove anything just be hungry and as healthy as you can be.
Never forget …you are

Fierce, Proud, Unstoppable, Stoked and Inspired– and yes… you’re a little bit sexy too

 

July – A unique relationship with our Flag

As you prepare for the upcoming season, the selection, qualification and the Sochi Winter Olympics take our flag –and all of the strength behind it—with you. If it’s not on your sleeve, or chest or helmet – know that it’s part of your support team, it’s part of who you are.

 

August – Bubble Wrap and Priorities

You take informed and calculated risks on a daily basis. You can’t afford to be conservative, but you can’t be reckless either.

 

September – This Amazing Life

Regardless of your sport and your role, you are likely living life in the extreme. Have fun, enjoy this wild and wonderful ride.
Hard work, being creative and getting better is what you have a passion for, so don’t hold back. That is how you got yourself into this amazing life.

 

October -  No Stone unturned

Having time to spare does not mean that you have energy to spare. Time-off is designed to help you recover, to be at your peak, not to tap you out. This is not about being selfish

 

November – Be the One who steps up

If “knowledge is power” then let’s treat expectation as a weapon.
For the Olympics, more than any other competition or title, expect that competitors will step-up with the intention of blocking your path to the podium. Whether you are the dark-horse quietly climbing the ranks, or the current champion leading the pack, tap into your passion, your hunger and your preparation to step around those in your way- better yet step-up first, and then… keep stepping beyond them.

 

Wow! On est déjà en décembre! C’est complètement fou! Surtout lorsque je pense que mon prochain message te parviendra en janvier 2014!

Tu as abattu un travail titanesque en 2013. Tu as grandi, tu as mûri et tu es sans aucun doute plus fort aujourd’hui que tu ne l’étais il y a un an. Sois fier de tout ce que tu as accompli et appris, et continue sur ta lancée!

J’ai commencé l’année en disant que l’inspiration et les idées pouvaient venir de partout. C’est ce qui a constitué l’essence même de tous les courriels de cette série de messages. Ils ont été conçus pour être des points de discussion; mon objectif était de t’inciter à la réflexion. Que tu aies été d’accord ou en désaccord avec leur contenu, j’ai été heureuse de recevoir tes commentaires, car ils ont été ma plus grande source d’apprentissage, et pour cela je te dis merci. L’approche de la fin de l’année est toujours marquée par une avalanche de « revues de l’année ». Cette note ne dérogera pas à la tradition en ce sens qu’elle comprend les faits saillants de tous les messages de mentorat de 2013!

Toutefois, pour commencer, j’aimerais te faire un bref rappel. Note le nombre de fois où tu t’es dit que tu avais amplement le temps jusqu’au 25 décembre (soit 25 jours) pour acheter des cadeaux et te préparer pour Noël (si c’est ce que tu choisis de faire). Il est vrai que l’année 2014, et plus précisément, le 7 février 2014, approche à grands pas, mais tu as encore bien du temps devant toi pour accomplir beaucoup de choses, alors reste calme et poursuis résolument ta route.

Voici les faits saillants des messages de mentorat de 2013. Chaque message comprend des hyperliens au cas où tu souhaiterais avoir plus de détails. Je te souhaite un super mois de décembre!

 

Janvier – Bonne année!

Sans stress, il n’y a pas d’ambition.
Continue à viser haut parce que célébrer la réalisation d’un objectif médiocre n’a rien de réjouissant.

 

Février – Temps et action

Juste avant les Jeux olympiques, tu te demanderas si tu en as fait assez. C’est très sain. Sois à l’aise et confiant avec les outils que tu as, et utilise-les du mieux que tu peux.
Trouve les faiblesses que les autres voient en toi, et travaille un peu chaque jour à les surmonter. Solidifie tes forces pour les rendre inébranlables. Sois curieux et entraîne ton équipe dans ton sillage pour vous élever à un autre niveau. Laisse les autres te pousser au bout de tes forces.

 

Mars – Bon à savoir ou besoin de le savoir

Tu dois faire la différence entre les choses qui sont bonnes à savoir relativement à l’expérience russe et qui sont extérieures à l’expérience olympique, et celles que tu as besoin de savoir et qui font partie de l’expérience olympique.

 

Avril – Le secret? Ne jamais cesser d’apprendre

Il n’y a rien qui t’aide à gagner autant que le simple fait d’être meilleur – meilleur que tu l’étais hier et meilleur que tu le seras demain.

 

Juin – L’euphorie d’une conférence réussie

La Série de l’excellence olympique s’est achevée, le 12 mai dernier, sur la note d’un succès retentissant. Tu as dit avoir passé de très bons moments marqués par l’inspiration, la motivation, l’esprit d’équipe… des moments d’expériences partagées et d’émotions… Wow! Tu fais partie d’une ÉQUIPE!
Amuse-toi autant que possible, n’essaie pas de prouver quoi que ce soit… mange bien et reste en aussi bonne santé que possible.
N’oublie jamais que tu fais partie d’une ÉQUIPE qui est féroce, fière, invincible, engagée, inspirée, et oui, aussi un petit peu sexy.

 

Juillet – Une relation unique avec notre drapeau

Tandis que tu te prépares pour la saison à venir, la sélection, les qualifications et les Jeux olympiques d’hiver de Sotchi, prends notre drapeau avec toi, et toute la force qui l’accompagne. S’il n’est pas sur tes manches, ta poitrine ou ton casque, sache qu’il fait partie de l’équipe qui te soutient, il fait partie de toi.

 

Août – Papier à bulles et priorités

Tu prends tous les jours des risques informés et calculés. Tu ne peux pas te permettre de faire preuve de trop de modération, mais tu ne dois pas te montrer imprudent non plus.

 

Septembre – Une vie fantastique

Quels que soient ton sport et ton rôle, tu vies probablement ta vie à l’extrême. Amuse-toi, profite de cette période euphorique et merveilleuse.
C’est en travaillant fort, en étant créatif et en cherchant à t’améliorer que tu exprimes ta passion, alors ne te retiens pas. C’est grâce à cela que tu mènes cette vie fantastique.

 

Octobre – Ne rien laisser au hasard

Avoir du temps libre ne signifie pas avoir de l’énergie à revendre. Ce temps libre est prévu pour t’aider à récupérer afin d’être au sommet de ta forme, et non pour t’épuiser. Ce n’est pas de l’égoïsme.

 

Novembre – Sois l’athlète qui se surpasse

Savoir à quoi t’attendre te rendra plus fort; et te servir de tes attentes comme d’une arme t’aidera beaucoup.
Pour les Jeux olympiques, plus que pour toute autre compétition ou tout autre titre, attends-toi à ce que tes adversaires se surpassent pour te barrer le chemin jusqu’au podium. Peu importe que tu grimpes les rangs du classement dans l’ombre ou que tu sois champion en tête du peloton, puise dans ta passion, ton urgence et ta préparation pour dépasser les adversaires en travers de ton chemin, et continue ensuite à te dépasser.

 

Finding answers from the ‘Don’t’ side

Posted in What I'm thinking (Thoughts and opinions)

13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do - 
Digging around the internet I’m always looking for … stuff. Stuff that holds my attention, stuff that gets me thinking, stuff that teaches me something new – or reminds me of things I’ve forgotten. It seems that the following list by compiled by Amy Morin, a psychotherapist and licensed clinical social worker, originally posted in  LifeHack is the kind of stuff that appeals to me  - and apparently to many others. When I found it – it had over 185k shares and where I had found it, reposted by Cheryl Conner on Forbes’ web site , it had been viewed over 2.5million times.
Much of what we study to improve ourselves is from the perspective of what we SHOULD do… but that doesn’t always jive with how I think. Sometimes I find it easier to tell you what, or where I don’t want to eat vs what I do want to eat. Looking for an new job or career? The options can be so vast that we can’t even begin to articulate what we DO want to do – but can can be quite clear on the things that we DON’T want to do. Same with where you want to live, who you want to be with…  etc etc. There is nothing wrong with discovering your answers from the perspective of what you don’t want. In fact – coming at it from that side might reveal more options than you would have included from the perspective of what you do want.
The refreshing part of this list/article is that it’s not hesitant to articulate what mentally strong people DON’T do. And today – that’s the kind of stuff that is resonating with me.


13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do -

Mentally strong people have healthy habits. They manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in ways that set them up for success in life. Check out these things that mentally strong people don’t do so that you too can become more mentally strong.

1. They Don’t Waste Time Feeling Sorry for Themselves

Mentally strong people don’t sit around feeling sorry about their circumstances or how others have treated them. Instead, they take responsibility for their role in life and understand that life isn’t always easy or fair.

2. They Don’t Give Away Their Power

They don’t allow others to control them, and they don’t give someone else power over them. They don’t say things like, “My boss makes me feel bad,” because they understand that they are in control over their own emotions and they have a choice in how they respond.

3. They Don’t Shy Away from Change

Mentally strong people don’t try to avoid change. Instead, they welcome positive change and are willing to be flexible. They understand that change is inevitable and believe in their abilities to adapt.

4. They Don’t Waste Energy on Things They Can’t Control

You won’t hear a mentally strong person complaining over lost luggage or traffic jams. Instead, they focus on what they can control in their lives. They recognize that sometimes, the only thing they can control is their attitude.

5. They Don’t Worry About Pleasing Everyone

Mentally strong people recognize that they don’t need to please everyone all the time. They’re not afraid to say no or speak up when necessary. They strive to be kind and fair, but can handle other people being upset if they didn’t make them happy.

6. They Don’t Fear Taking Calculated Risks

They don’t take reckless or foolish risks, but don’t mind taking calculated risks. Mentally strong people spend time weighing the risks and benefits before making a big decision, and they’re fully informed of the potential downsides before they take action.

7. They Don’t Dwell on the Past

Mentally strong people don’t waste time dwelling on the past and wishing things could be different. They acknowledge their past and can say what they’ve learned from it. However, they don’t constantly relive bad experiences or fantasize about the glory days. Instead, they live for the present and plan for the future.

8. They Don’t Make the Same Mistakes Over and Over

Mentally strong people accept responsibility for their behavior and learn from their past mistakes. As a result, they don’t keep repeating those mistakes over and over. Instead, they move on and make better decisions in the future.

9. They Don’t Resent Other People’s Success

Mentally strong people can appreciate and celebrate other people’s success in life. They don’t grow jealous or feel cheated when others surpass them. Instead, they recognize that success comes with hard work, and they are willing to work hard for their own chance at success.

10. They Don’t Give Up After the First Failure

Mentally strong people don’t view failure as a reason to give up. Instead, they use failure as an opportunity to grow and improve. They are willing to keep trying until they get it right.

11. They Don’t Fear Alone Time

Mentally strong people can tolerate being alone and they don’t fear silence. They aren’t afraid to be alone with their thoughts and they can use downtime to be productive. They enjoy their own company and aren’t dependent on others for companionship and entertainment all the time but instead can be happy alone.

12. They Don’t Feel the World Owes Them Anything

Mentally strong people don’t feel entitled to things in life. They weren’t born with a mentality that others would take care of them or that the world must give them something. Instead, they look for opportunities based on their own merits.

13. They Don’t Expect Immediate Results

Whether they are working on improving their health or getting a new business off the ground, mentally strong people don’t expect immediate results. Instead, they apply their skills and time to the best of their ability and understand that real change takes time.

Be the one who steps up – Expectation is a weapon.

Posted in Mentor Messages

The whole point of my mentor messages is to help normalize what everyone who has ever been to an Olympics knows – the Olympics are different. We say the difference is more than just Citius, Altius, Fortius because families, sponsors, media and nations treat the Games differently, but who’s kidding who? – an athlete’s desire to go/be Faster, Higher, Stronger than anyone else is a massive part of why this year feels harder, unique, special, etc. etc to them. This month I really wanted to be sure that no one at the Olympics takes them by surprise.

When I was training for my first Games, the veteran on our team, Lesley Thompson-Willie, repeatedly told / warned us; “You have to watch out, people step-up in an Olympic year.” In an Olympic year there would always be at least one ‘dark-horse’ threat. Someone who wasn’t much to worry about in the previous year, she told us, would go home with a medal. As World Champions, she wanted to be sure that we didn’t get caught simply training for another year and then get passed by a dark horse, by those who were hungry – if not desperate – to succeed at the Olympics.

Have you ever been 4th in a really important race/competition? I was twice. My heart ached and I was consumed with a fire to do better next time. I became so hungry to win and, almost more so, desperate to not be broken hearted again.

I used those results and feelings to drive me until we were on the top of the podium. Taking Lesley’s advice I didn’t let go of that hunger or fire. I started to approach Olympic years, my training, and all competitions during that year as if everyone else was training / competing with the hunger to win, and with the desperation not to be 4th again. Everyday I tried to bring that same intensity and desire to my training and competitions. It was a great technique for me – and it helped us win back-to-back World and Olympic titles 3 times. Lesley’s advice insured that we took nothing and no one for granted. We were taught to raise our own, already high standards, and step-up during Olympic years.

Now and throughout this Olympic season, whether you are pre-qualified, fighting through selection or chasing qualifying points, expect that your competitors will be hungrier for success than any “normal” year. Expect that they have been working their asses off to raise their game: Be sure that you have too!

Be aware that your competitors have increased the intensity of their preparation and quality of performances beyond the linear increases that you have seen in the past. But trust that you, your team, and your coach have stepped-up your intensity and quality too. There is power when you know that you are ready to match and better everything that anyone can throw at you.

Your Russian competitors particularly, just as Canada was 4 years ago, are absolutely hungry for Olympic medals. There will be a passionate desperation from them, their coaches and their associations to succeed this year. … Expect the Olympic environment in (and from) Russia to be different, and that in being aware of this, you are ready for everything.

If “knowledge is power” then let’s treat expectation as a weapon. Expect and anticipate behaviour to be different and performances to be better this year. If you do – you will have the ability to calmly react and the agility to positively respond to whatever gets thrown at you.

For the Olympics, more than any other competition or title, expect that competitors will step-up with the intention of blocking your path to the podium. Whether you are the dark-horse quietly climbing the ranks, or the current champion leading the pack, tap into your passion, your hunger and your preparation to step around those in your way- better yet step-up first, and then… keep stepping beyond them.

Marnie

Between now and the 2014 Olympic Games I will be sending out a monthly email. Think of it as a talking point; you may agree with me, maybe disagree… It may serve as a heads up or reminder to some ups and downs that are a natural point of believing that you can more than just go, more than just compete, but compete at your very BEST at the Olympics. My goal will never be to add to your stress, but to help you wear it well.

>>>>>>

Soyez celui qui se surpasse – Les attentes comme armes

Le but de mes courriels est très simple : vous aider à comprendre que les Jeux olympiques sont différents de tout ce que vous connaissez. Tous ceux qui y ont participé se rendent compte que la différence ne se résume pas à Citius, Altius, Fortius parce que les familles, les commanditaires, les médias et les pays ne voient pas les Jeux du même œil. C’est sans compter votre désir d’aller plus vite, plus haut et plus fort qui fait une différence énorme. Voilà pourquoi l’année olympique est si difficile, unique et spéciale.

Quand je m’entraînais en vue de mes premiers Jeux olympiques, Lesley Thompson-Willie, la vétérane de notre équipe nous répétait cet avertissement : « Vous devez être vigilants parce que certains athlètes se surpassent pendant l’année olympique. » Chaque année olympique a son laisser pour compte. Un athlète dont personne ne se méfiait l’année précédente, mais qui rentre à la maison avec une médaille. Lorsqu’on est champion du monde, il ne faut pas se faire prendre en s’entraînant comme pendant une saison régulière pour se faire coiffer par un laisser pour compte désireux, ou désespéré, de gagner aux Jeux olympiques.

Avez-vous déjà terminé 4e lors d’une compétition importante? Ça m’est arrivé deux fois. J’avais le cœur brisé et j’étais dévorée par l’urgence de faire mieux la fois suivante. Je voulais tellement gagner en grande partie pour ne pas revivre le même désespoir. Je me suis servie de mes contre-performances et de mes sentiments douloureux pour m’amener jusqu’au sommet du podium. J’ai écouté le conseil de Lesley, et je me suis nourrie de l’urgence de gagner. J’ai commencé à anticiper les années olympiques, mon entraînement et toutes les compétitions comme si toutes mes adversaires s’entraînaient et concourraient avec la même urgence de ne pas terminer au pied du podium encore une fois. Chaque jour, j’essayais de m’entraîner avec la même intensité et la même urgence. La technique a très bien fonctionné pour moi. Elle nous a permis de remporter trois titres consécutifs aux Jeux olympiques et aux Championnats du monde. Grâce au conseil de Lesley, nous n’avions tenu rien ni personne pour acquis. Nous avons appris à relever la barre encore plus haute et à mettre le paquet pendant les années olympiques.

Que vous soyez préqualifié, que vous luttiez pour une place dans l’équipe ou que vous cherchiez à accumuler des points de qualification, attendez-vous à ce que le désir de gagner de vos adversaires soit encore plus fort pendant la saison olympique qu’en temps « normal ». Attendez-vous à ce qu’ils travaillent d’arrache-pied pour passer au niveau supérieur, et faites la même chose!

Soyez conscients que vos adversaires ont augmenté l’intensité de leur préparation et la qualité de leurs performances au-delà de l’amélioration à laquelle ils vous ont habituée par le passé. Veillez cependant à ce que votre équipe, votre entraîneur et vous passiez aussi à la vitesse supérieure en intensité et en qualité. Savoir que vous êtes prêt à égaler et à surpasser vos adversaires vous permettra de gagner en assurance.

Comme le Canada il y a quatre ans, vos adversaires russes voudront récolter des médailles olympiques à tout prix. Les athlètes russes, leurs entraîneurs et leurs associations voudront réussir coûte que coûte cette année….Attendez-vous à ce que la Russie et les Russes soient différents. Si vous en êtes conscients, vous serez prêts à tout.

Savoir à quoi vous attendre vous rendra plus fort, et vous servir de vos attentes comme d’une arme vous aidera. Attendez-vous à un comportement différent de la part de vos adversaires et à des performances plus relevées cette année. Ce faisant, vous serez en mesure de réagir calmement et de répondre positivement à toutes les situations.

Pour les Jeux olympiques, plus que pour toute autre compétition ou tout autre titre, attendez-vous à ce que vos adversaires se surpassent pour vous barrer le chemin jusqu’au podium. Peu importe que vous grimpiez les rangs du classement dans l’ombre ou que vous soyez champion en tête du peloton, puisez dans votre passion, votre urgence et votre préparation pour dépasser les adversaires en travers de votre chemin et continuez ensuite à vous dépasser.

Marnie

Jusqu’aux Jeux olympiques de 2014, je vous enverrai un courriel mensuel. Considérez-le comme un sujet de discussion; vous serez peut-être d’accord ou en désaccord avec moi… Il peut servir également d’information ou de rappel sur les hauts et les bas entourant votre participation aux Jeux et vous convaincre que vous ferez plus que concourir, car vous serez au SOMMET de votre forme aux Jeux olympiques. Mon objectif ne sera jamais de contribuer à votre stress, mais de vous aider à mieux le gérer.