The Olympics is into its 10th day. Our family has been following closely with some of our favourites including swimming, gymnastics, diving, weights lifting, table-tennis and athletics. It was fun watching the events together especially when you hear the kids go, “Phelps is it! This guy is really good. How does he do it?” or “Huh? Less than 51 sec for 100m Fly? Wow!” My kids relate fairly well to swimming as they are both into competitive swim. Not quite the best amongst their peers, we continued to push them to take the sports seriously valuing the long-term benefits of participating in competitive sports. Of course, you will hear the woes and cries during days where they just don’t feel up to it. The trainings are tough and rain or shine, the drillings do not stop unless the lightning strikes.
While other children are into their school works, these kids are drilling at least 3 to 4 times a week. My parents think I pushed them too hard and should just let them focus on their studies. We felt otherwise and till today, hold no regrets to investing the time to groom them in this aspect. Not only do they look fit and healthy, I believed they have acquired in them strong traits which study alone would not deliver:
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Teamwork and respect for others when swimming together
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Tenacity and discipline to complete the routine despite physical tiredness or environmental disadvantages
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Strong fighting spirit to continuously improve on one’s previous seed time
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Appreciation of work and effort required to excel in a skill
Today as my children watched great sportsmen showcasing their skills and achievements, they understand that arriving where these people are takes loads of sacrifices and work. They know that what they go through is so small compared to these Olympic participants. They could appreciate because they had gone through the drillings though much less intense.They need not imagine the sweetness of victory to be crowned the champion because they have experienced it themselves. The thrill of competing with the best. The disappointment for not making the mark because there is always someone better than you but the strength to accept and try again. Such moments of learning and growing, no amount of sharing or speaking could impress upon them except having to experience it themselves. That, the books could never teach.
