On August 4, Sydney McLaughlin won the final of the women’s 400-meter hurdles at the Tokyo Olympics. After clearing the final hurdle, she mustered an incredible kick to edge out her fellow Team USA runner, Dalilah Muhammed, by .12 seconds and shattered her own world record by .44 seconds, a record she had set less than six weeks prior.
How did she do it? Beyond her natural potential, it came down to coaching, training, and competition. “It’s just about trusting your training, trusting your coach, and that will get you all the way round the track,” she said. “We’ve practiced the last 40 meters so many times, so it was nothing unfamiliar for me. I just knew I had to go and give it everything I had and dip at the line.”
In 2020, McLaughlin changed coaches and began to work with Bob Kersee, a coach of numerous track champions. As a result of shifting to work with Kersee, she started training with veteran Allyson Felix, who at the time had earned nine Olympic medals and earned two more in Tokyo to become the most decorated track and field Olympian in American history.
What drives these athletes to train with such dedication and compete with such tenacity? Within these Olympians lies a fundamental belief in their own potential to perform better than anyone else. Every time somebody breaks a record, they defy preconceived notions of what is possible. That perceived limit is fractured and reshaped with each broken record. Why, then, do we continue to utter statements of limitation when talking about what people are capable of? These thoughts are limiting beliefs constructed only in our minds, perhaps a result of pragmatism and an overwhelming exposure to mediocrity.
McLaughlin, long before running in Tokyo, expressed with confidence that the world record could “definitely be lower than what it is right now.” To be successful, she must simultaneously operate with this confidence, as well as maintain a clear mind focused on her process, without allowing other thoughts to intrude. “Pressure’s an illusion, it’s what you make it,” said McLaughlin.
Olympians possess conviction in the pursuit of defying limits and an irresistible yearning to practice, to work hard, to sacrifice, merely for the opportunity to give it their all and leave a mark in their sport. When people with this potential and shared mindset come together, they continually push each other’s performance. Said McLaughlin, “It’s cool to be part of this new generation of athletes pushing the boundaries on what’s possible.” She likens her rivalry with Muhammed to “iron sharpening iron.”
When we witness the supreme performances of Olympic athletes, we are awestruck. Why? Because they are doing things we never imagined, and can hardly believe, even as we sit watching it happen before our eyes. Their potential and ambition are not confined to a single sport or event either. “I train alongside Syd every day, and what I notice the most is her tremendous potential and not just as an Olympic athlete,” shared Felix. “She has the potential to become the most outstanding 400-meter hurdler of all time, yes, but more importantly, Syd has the potential to impact lives. That is her greatest strength and her greatest opportunity.” High praise coming from Felix, who spoke out in an op-ed for The New York Times about her poor treatment from Nike during her pregnancy and maternity. Nike and other apparel brands have since committed to revising the language of their maternity policies. Oh, and she just launched her own shoe company.
Actualizing human potentiality begins with a belief that we are capable of more. From that seed of belief sprouts a dream, which blossoms through nutrients like training, discipline, sacrifice, and fortitude. This dream feeds on encouragement and doubt, success and failure. Just as the mightiest trees take decades to mature, the loftiest dreams also require time to become reality. In their infancies, they may seem unremarkable. Eventually, inevitably, they begin to overshadow the rest and demand attention and respect.
Even as we are astonished by gold medal performances and mighty trees, we do not think to look down and consider that the sapling at our knees may someday dwarf us. The thing is, that sapling does not need anybody’s permission to fulfill its potential, and neither do future Olympians.
The other day I heard someone say, “If you have a dream, do it now.”
Do you have a dream? What are you waiting for?
Sources:
Image by: AP Photo/Kyusung Gong
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/22/opinion/allyson-felix-pregnancy-nike.html
Talent Plus
Talent Plus is a team of industry experts who collaborate to deliver insightful and impactful content. Our blogs are designed to provide practical advice and fresh perspectives, helping you stay informed and ahead of the curve.
Latest Posts: Blog
Blog September 12, 2024
Get Ready: Building a 30 60 90 Day Onboarding Plan
Boost employee engagement and productivity with a well-crafted 30 60 90 day onboarding plan. Set new hires up for success from day one.
Read MoreBlog September 09, 2024
Employee Engagement Strategies
Unlock the power of employee engagement strategies to boost productivity, retention and your organization's bottom line.
Read MoreBlog August 27, 2024
Get Ready: Make Your Mid-Year Check-In Matter
Increase communication and build trust with an effective check-in. Learn how to have a productive conversation with our employee check-in template.
Read MoreBlog July 24, 2024
Go for the Teamwork Gold
Discover the keys to building engaged workplace teams. Learn how coaching strategies can unlock your work team's full potential.
Read MoreBlog July 18, 2024
Let’s Talk About You: The Importance of Career Investment Discussions
We discuss the importance of Career Investment Discussions (CIDs) and how they can help you better invest in your team members.
Read MoreBlog June 20, 2024
Integrating Talent Plus Assessments with Your Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
Learn how integrating Talent Plus assessments into your ATS can streamline your talent acquisition process and improve candidate volume.
Read More