Don’t you just love watching the Olympics?  I’m sure that we all love watching the men’s and women’s hockey the most, but it doesn’t seem to matter which sport I’m watching, I literally get goosebumps during almost every event. Watching athletes achieve a personal best, compete their hardest and realize their Olympic dream is so awe-inspiring.

But there was one moment that happened very early on in the Games that has stood out among all the rest. During an interview I watched with a coach during the first few days of competition, he made a terrific point during his speech that really struck a chord with me as a former player and current coach, and I wanted to make sure that I shared with you.

He said that we should all “aspire to be Olympian.” He didn’t say we should all aspire to be an Olympian, but to “be Olympian.”

Let’s be honest, the reality is that there are very few players or coaches that are ever going to realize their dream of being an Olympian. But we can all aspire to embody the qualities Olympians have.

They have a level of commitment and desire that most of us could never quite understand until we see it in person. I remember when I first moved to Calgary and had the opportunity to train alongside not only the women’s hockey Olympians, but athletes from all different sports. Before I moved out there, I thought that I was pouring in all the time and energy that I possibly could to be the best. I quickly realized that these athletes were a step above and that I would need to transform myself in order to keep up.

These athletes also exhibit a high level of confidence and tremendous ability to focus under extreme pressure. These athletes have been honing their mental game for a long, long time in order to be able to compete and excel when the whole world is watching. They know the road to success is long and hard, but they stay focused on what needs to be done and are confident in their ability to achieve their ultimate goal of winning Olympic gold. 

Last, but certainly not least, these athletes believe in themselves and show tremendous humility and pride. Not a single one of the athlete interviews that I have seen so far has the competitors boasting about how amazing they are and how they are a “lock” for the medal. They feel blessed to have the opportunity, know that they worked hard for it, but recognize that their success is dependent on many more factors than their own actions. They truly believe in their ability to achieve their dreams and realize that all the people who helped them along the way are a big part of their success.

Whether you are a player, parent or coach, you can display all of these qualities on the ice, off the ice, at school, at work and with your family. Take a moment and think about what you can do today to embody these ideals in your life. We won’t all have the chance to compete on the world stage or stand on top of that podium, but we can learn a lot from these amazing athletes and role models and use their  achievements as a guidepost for our own lives.

For more articles, videos, interviews and advice on how to take your game to the next level at www.totalfemalehockey.com. Kim McCullough, MSc, YCS, is an expert in the development of aspiring female hockey players. She is a former NCAA Division I captain at Dartmouth and played in the National Women’s Hockey League for six years.  She is the Director & Founder of Total Female Hockey and Head Coach of the Toronto-Leaside Junior Wildcats in the Provincial Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). 

Photo: Christine Wisch