There is something magical about watching Usain Bolt run. From the way he gets tall after the first 30meters of the race his knees up, shoulders down, eyes forward to the last 10meters were he checks the competition, although at this point there is usually little need.
As the fastest man to ever run a 100meter or 200meter race, Usain has brought new flare to the world of athletics. His celebratory pose is a worldwide staple as is his name. Yet behind the fanfare, world records and gold medals, is the engine room for Usain’s success. In this video, Usain says “they see you run and it looks so easy, it looks effortless, but before it gets to that point, its hard.. its hard work….its day in day out sacrifice…its dying”. He concludes with, “the work is behind the scene, competition is the easy part”.
In effect, everything we love about Bolt, his flare, medals, wins, running technique is made possible by hard work. What we see on the track is the finished product of hard training and daily sacrifice.
It is unlikely you or I will equal Bolt’s level of success in our endeavours without a similar level of input. Success is equal to hard work, or as Bolt put’s it. It is dying. So next time you watch Usain win a medal, remember this video. Remember the hours of training, remember him lying on the track his lungs grasping for air, remember him throwing up on the track. Remember that even his father finds it difficult to watch his successful son train. And after watching, celebrating and marvelling at the success that is Usain, remember that your success will also require sacrifice.
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