Keep on giving it your best
5/27/08
I did not sleep well last night. I am anxious about today and my mind kept racing back and forth about who I was going to let go today. These are all guys who share that Olympic dream. They have dreamed on standing on the podium and seeing our flag being raised and hearing our national anthem. They have put their hearts into this program. They have given it their all everyday in practice to be a part of the Olympic team. Today, I get to tell them they did not make it. I get to tell them that they are not good enough. In a way, I feel like a dream killer. The harsh reality of it is that only 13 men will make the final team. We have 24 this morning and after tonight’s practice we are down to 18.
I have been a part of the Olympic team on four occasions. I have witnessed my friends being cut. It is no fun for anyone. I was never cut so it is hard for me to know exactly how it feels but I am trying to be very sensitive to this process. These guys all deserve to be honored. In my opinion, they have helped us get back on track by making our national team more competitive. When I began coaching with the national team (as an assistant coach) 2 ½ years ago we had about 15 athletes competing for the 13 spots. Now we have 24. We have more depth and I feel like we are stronger from top to bottom. So when we go to the Olympics these guys that are being cut today should feel proud and know that they were a part of that team. I know that even though coaches do not stand on the podium and receive a medal – when I watch our 13 guys stand on that podium, I will think about the guys who did not make the final 13. These are the unsung heroes who helped us turn this program around and get back to that podium after 20 years.
I will leave you today with this quote from Robert Kennedy. It applies to us all.
“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly”.
Here is the lesson in that quote. Keep on giving it your best. Even when you are knocked down and fail, get back up and give it your best again. By failing we learn, we grow and we get stronger and eventually if we keep trying we will achieve what we have set out to do.
See you at the pool!
Coach
I did not sleep well last night. I am anxious about today and my mind kept racing back and forth about who I was going to let go today. These are all guys who share that Olympic dream. They have dreamed on standing on the podium and seeing our flag being raised and hearing our national anthem. They have put their hearts into this program. They have given it their all everyday in practice to be a part of the Olympic team. Today, I get to tell them they did not make it. I get to tell them that they are not good enough. In a way, I feel like a dream killer. The harsh reality of it is that only 13 men will make the final team. We have 24 this morning and after tonight’s practice we are down to 18.
I have been a part of the Olympic team on four occasions. I have witnessed my friends being cut. It is no fun for anyone. I was never cut so it is hard for me to know exactly how it feels but I am trying to be very sensitive to this process. These guys all deserve to be honored. In my opinion, they have helped us get back on track by making our national team more competitive. When I began coaching with the national team (as an assistant coach) 2 ½ years ago we had about 15 athletes competing for the 13 spots. Now we have 24. We have more depth and I feel like we are stronger from top to bottom. So when we go to the Olympics these guys that are being cut today should feel proud and know that they were a part of that team. I know that even though coaches do not stand on the podium and receive a medal – when I watch our 13 guys stand on that podium, I will think about the guys who did not make the final 13. These are the unsung heroes who helped us turn this program around and get back to that podium after 20 years.
I will leave you today with this quote from Robert Kennedy. It applies to us all.
“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly”.
Here is the lesson in that quote. Keep on giving it your best. Even when you are knocked down and fail, get back up and give it your best again. By failing we learn, we grow and we get stronger and eventually if we keep trying we will achieve what we have set out to do.
See you at the pool!
Coach
posted by Dr. Terry Schroeder at
2:32 PM
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