Success!
My favorite Olympic moment…watching a former student, Erin Pac, win the bronze medal in the woman’s bobsled.
It was not easy. Erin was suffering from a hamstring injury, her relationship with her brakeman over the last couple of years vacillated between cohesive to periods of non-communication and separation, and Erin readily acknowledged the fear factor of careening 90 miles per hour down the track at Whistler.
The 50-50 turn. The 50-50 turn at the Whistler bobsled track got its nickname because it seemed that half of the riders crashed at that junction. What serves as the 50-50 metaphor in your school system?
During the interview after winning the bronze medal, the brakeman Elana Meyers was asked what she was thinking before the final run; “We just tried to stay relaxed and have a little fun.” Combine that outlook with years of dedicated hard work and truly wonderful things can happen.
Dedication, faith and perseverance, the willingness to endure pain and face your fear, AND maintaining the perspective of having fun. A great winning combination for all of us to consider and celebrate.
Make a good day,
Tod
PS. Erin Pac’s website:
http://pacusabobsled.com/
PSS. Video of last 2 runs and post-race interview:
http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=22c4baa2-d326-475e-8729-7ceae6b4f475.html#day+u+s+women+grab+bobsled+bronze
PSSS. Nice news story and interview:
http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-features/news/newsid=448453.html
PSSSS. Photo credit: http://media.masslive.com/republican/photo/-909559927122a80f_large.jpg
