It’s fair to say our nation has experienced a highly emotional weekend of sports. Oddly, I found both the Wimbledon and the Euros uplifting to watch, although some (probably most) will disagree. I think if we take our focus beyond national pride and treat these athletes as the incredible, powerful machines they have become, I think the sporting narrative turns from disappointment to one of sheer positive pride.
I had the privilege of winning a pair of Wimbledon tickets for the mens quarter final in the annual ballot this year. It’s a strange transaction, investing heavily in the unknown. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was a worth while investment. Consequently it turns out it was, and we were in luck. Our lottery tickets took us to court number 1 to watch the incredible Alcaraz/Paul match.
Worth every. single. penny.
Us spectators got to feel every moment - the tension, the athleticism, the strategic play - we were an invested part of the match. And more that all of this, we were privilege to the entire story.
Where a televised event focuses on raw numbers and strategy, being in the presence of these athletes gave us spectators ringside seats in to how they operate, allowing us to appreciate the athlete themselves beyond the game entirely. Unless you were the chatterboxes sitting behind me who spoke in their full outdoor voices the entire way through, missing most of the match. Clearly they weren’t there for the tennis.
Now these two world class players were powerhouses. It doesn’t take a genius to spot this through the televised version. Watching live however, we were able to appreciate power one step beyond the usual working glutes and quads - consequently strong enough to withhold a squad, wide enough to warrant it being considered a partial split at one side of the court, before breaking in to a run over to the other side, only to return the lightest touch of a ball headed in their direction. Poetic and spine tingling to watch.
But what really gave these players power was the backing of their team.
We’ve all heard of a sports mindset, and if you’re anything like me, you’ve spent forever wondering where yours is - or in my case why I never it made it on to the swim team at the olympics. A story of another tie. It turns out when you get to a certain level in your training, your team goes beyond one coach shared between 150. You move down the funnel and find yourself on the receiving end of targeted coaching designed to hone your skills, along with nutrition advice from a dietician, and more interestingly, time with a sports psychologist who conjures up their sports mindset magic on you. Alongside of course, the athletes Mum and Dad who are the shining beacons, the true believers of their Childs abilities.
Watching Alcaraz interact with his team during the game was a masterclass in how an athlete best uses his team for strength. Each shot he played, he would glance up to his team ready for feedback, he would nod silently back and continue play. Sometimes there were smiles, others pained looks. Full disclosure, I haven’t had a chance to analyse the signs given to him by his team, nor quite frankly would they make much sense to me, but it doesn’t take a genius to work out that these constant check in’s injected a kind of superpower through his entire body. Alcaraz’s win was not solely down to him, but an entire army who had his back each and every step of the way. Akin to a love story, full of warmth and affection, all of which gave this one man the ability to shine - and of course bring home a win.
As I finished another Sports and Food Workshop with a lovely bunch of young footballers in school last week, I did my usual debrief with the coaches to find out what worked and what needed tweaking next time round. Nothing, was the response. In fact they got more than they bargained for beyond my promised brief, how to fuel for success. The coaches had witnessed firsthand the footballers natural team instinct off the pitch, intrinsically linked in an unspoken manner, together achieving a deliciously successful outcome. This was their moment of pride. And realisation that these off pitch moments are just as important for the players strength and resilience.
As with Alcaraz last week, this young team were caught in a moment of warmth and affection - along with a bit of sporting banter and wonderful spirit - giving them the ability to shine. I like this kind of attitude.
This is a running commentary in my house as Jed is OBSESSED with sport and the athletic mind. I'd love to read more about how you work with young athletes.
I can vouch for how delicious this is! Thank you! Ready for round 2!