The Olympian with the medal is not the only hero!
We all love a champion! And nothing brings this to the fore better than the Olympics. As we have witnessed during these exhilarating weeks of London 2012, the performance of each star Olympian becomes a conversation point and quite literally a celebration during the games. I am certainly no exception. But last week, just as we were raising a toast to medal winners, a friend commented, “The Olympian with the medal is really not the hero. He is a hero by all means, but not the only one for sure!.”
Of course, there is no taking away from the colossal effort of the champ. The hard work, commitment, sweat and perseverance required to gain entry to the greatest games on the planet cannot be underplayed under any circumstance. Yet , the truth is that this achievement is not possible without a team effort and an equally important contribution of a support system around the sport star. This role of the ‘behind the scenes’ people – who work as diligently on the sidelines in the making of a champion – is often missed.
In a study published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, Dr Tim Rees of the University of Exeter's School of Sport and Health Sciences goes so far as to state that the ongoing support of friends and family is one of the most important factors influencing sports performance. “While training, tactics and luck all play a part, the encouraging words or kind gestures of a partner or friend can make the difference between a footballer scoring that winning goal, or a sprinter achieving a record time,” he maintains.
However, there is much more behind the scenes beyond friends and family. Today, the building of a world class athlete is far more than personal effort and family support. It takes a team of professional coaches who specialize in the sport and physical fitness. It takes sports medicine, nutritionists, psychologists. And often, it might need organized financial and even legal support.
Nothing showcases this team effort better than the inspiring story of Oscar Pistorius, the ‘blade runner’ who made sporting history in London 2012 by becoming the first double amputee to compete at the Olympics. The South African even made it to the 400m semi-final, and though he was eliminated at this stage, his very presence at the Olympics was more significant than his achievements on the track.
The story behind his entry into the Olympics includes an ensemble of people who together paved the way to London 2012 for this historic achievement. Oscar entry into the Olympics was in question when the IAAF banned his entry with the contention that his prosthetic limbs gave him an advantage over able-bodied athletes as he was able to run at the same speed while using less energy! A series of tests carried out by a team of scientists including Hugh Herr, Ph.D., director of the Biomechatronics Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology helped dismiss this case. Oscar was also supported by Professor Tim Noakes, of the University of Cape Town, who helped prepare his case, and Jeffrey Kessler, a Manhattan lawyer who helped demolished the IAAF’s case. Of course, not to miss out the guidance of his trainers, Oscar was supported by Talkmore Nyongani, a two-time Olympian for Zimbabwe, with whom he trained for several years, and Jannie Brooks, who worked with him since he was in high school.
At the end it was all worth it. Oscar’s very presence at the London Olympics was an inspiration for many an athlete at the games. Kirani James, the man who won the 400m semi-final he ran in, was so moved that he switched bib numbers with him after their race, and held up Oscar's bib to the cheering spectators.
Not every story has such a distinct supporting cast. Yet, every champion performance is invariably accomplished with a collective effort of a team, even though it is just one individual that holds up the medal of honour at the end. As they say, it takes a village to build a man – and most certainly a hero. And if you really think about it – this is equally true outside of sport as it is within.