I want to ask questions about the life of a Champion.
If you are a World Record Holder, a National Record Holder, a State/Provincial record holder, a Club record holder, or even if you've recently gone a personal best; I want to know how you feel about being a Champion.
Masters win, regardless of place!
See, doing your best, no matter what level you achieve is a great experience. The feeling of improvement from consistent effort is something that anyone can attain. That joy is the same when you finish a race and you know it was your best, a great lifestyle, something worth striving for.
Since I've already started a discussion with Chris Stevenson, perhaps we can continue it here.
Chris, even though you may not have smiled at first (on camera anyways) how did the next few days feel? Are these your first WR titles? Do you plan on more in the future? You're a chemistry teacher, right? Do you realize you've inspired me, and countless others?
This can only be done if there is at least some level of joy gained from the process. A process that is equally enjoyable regardless of the place you are on the scoreboard.
Yes, absolutely!
Here's the thing, I am not trying to denigrate myself or my accomplishments by referring to my past swimming as "second-tier." I have a very healthy ego, believe me, but a realistic picture of myself as someone whom did not cause the "big guns" to worry overmuch in the past. So what? I worked hard and I got plenty fast.
One great thing about swimming is the stopwatch. Ultimately you are competing against the clock. Being first or breaking a record is a great feeling...but it depends on others "cooperating" by being slower than you. I believe pride in accomplishment should not depend too strongly on such external factors.
Dorothy is very rightly proud of doing no-breathers in practice for the very first time after years of attempts. That accomplishment is not cheapened by any little bit the fact that others can do it (and many others who cannot).
Terry is also rightly proud of his perserverance in the sport and eventually finding events (OW swimming) that bring him the most satisfaction. Although he didn't mention it, he should also be proud of spreading the joy of swimming to many others through TI (and right now I am using his book & DVD to further my ongoing project to bring my recently-retired parents into swimming).
Records will be broken. There is always someone out there faster -- if not now, then in the future. Again, so what? We can and should use others' performances as motivation but their accomplishments should not lessen our pride in our own.
Chris
This can only be done if there is at least some level of joy gained from the process. A process that is equally enjoyable regardless of the place you are on the scoreboard.
Yes, absolutely!
Here's the thing, I am not trying to denigrate myself or my accomplishments by referring to my past swimming as "second-tier." I have a very healthy ego, believe me, but a realistic picture of myself as someone whom did not cause the "big guns" to worry overmuch in the past. So what? I worked hard and I got plenty fast.
One great thing about swimming is the stopwatch. Ultimately you are competing against the clock. Being first or breaking a record is a great feeling...but it depends on others "cooperating" by being slower than you. I believe pride in accomplishment should not depend too strongly on such external factors.
Dorothy is very rightly proud of doing no-breathers in practice for the very first time after years of attempts. That accomplishment is not cheapened by any little bit the fact that others can do it (and many others who cannot).
Terry is also rightly proud of his perserverance in the sport and eventually finding events (OW swimming) that bring him the most satisfaction. Although he didn't mention it, he should also be proud of spreading the joy of swimming to many others through TI (and right now I am using his book & DVD to further my ongoing project to bring my recently-retired parents into swimming).
Records will be broken. There is always someone out there faster -- if not now, then in the future. Again, so what? We can and should use others' performances as motivation but their accomplishments should not lessen our pride in our own.
Chris
