The rings will get wet, dry, hot, cold...it doesn't matter what is going on anywhere in the world or in our lives. There are people that have set other things aside in preparing to make their Olympic plans really happen.
Many times it is the biggest decision of your life. I would say most times someone becomes an Olympic Champion, it was due to a long path of correct decisions made at each stage in their development. Even though most 10 year old swimmers do plan on being Olympic Champions, nearly every one of them takes an incorect path as they grow up. Some, actually very few, happen to get each challenging decision correct and set up Olympic success.
Nobody in my research has ever made the Team because of ther level of talent. To me, talent is a ghost that lingers in the minds of those who haven't put in the time and effort. There seem to be so many that have honestly believed that they did everything possible to be on the team or win a gold medal. Many come away with reasons that are simply not true as to why they didn't get to the ultimate position on the podium. Quite possibly, they just did not do enough. Hard to hear? VERY!
What I do know is that there are an endless amount of things that can go into all the right challenging decisions one is confronted with in trying to truely become the best at something. We may be limiting ourselves by not remaining inventors and risk takers. Once a formula for success is realized, it is already time to adjust it. In other words: KEEP EVOLVING!
So, how do we ever beat the continually evolving, "best athletes"? Take bigger risks, uproot what you currently believe in to be the best and search out and try out something new.
Some of the best swimmers have looked into new events and begun training for them. Some athletes are discovering new disciplines and adding them to their "cross"training. For example: Even Phelps and his coach are evolving his race line-up. Probably for a couple of reasons. One: the 400 IM is an energy sucker at every level and going forward may cost Michael dearly in other events as his competition evolves. Two: Michael and his coach Bob Bowman are evolving toward new events for Michael. Not easier events as there is no such thing at the Olympic level, but new events as Michaels body and training evolves.
On the contrary, some athletes keep doing the same thing as before and expect to get different results. These are maybe our best, but they have not yet been exposed making changes or worse yet they are resistant to doing new things or adjusting what they believe works.
I really like when my swimmers look up at me and wonder who I am. I'm not the guy that was on deck yesterday, I'm more strict on technique today or more tough on making specific times in big training sets than I was yesterday. Maybe I turn into the "fun" coach on a day everyone was expecting the drill seargent. Maybe they get the drill seargent on a day that is typically set aside for recovery. I LOVE IT!!! Keep em guessing, stay ahead of the challenge. Stay on track of the plans, but mix up the details. The swimmers that can adapt on those days are probably more suited to excel closer and closer to the Rings.
