Getting Closer!
The Olympic Trials are just a few short weeks away. I am so excited to be preparing for the Olympic Games in Beijing, China! It is hard to describe the feeling that there is right now in preparation for the Olympic Games. There is just an excitement in the air that is energizing everyone that is involved with the Olympics. I am very grateful for all the help and support that I have received to help me be living my dream. I cannot wait until I get the chance to compete in Las Vegas, Nevada!
I have been staying busy with training, fixing up our house, doing some work on the side, and trying to get organized with some fund raising. Last month, I won the US Nationals, and in doing so I am qualified for the finals of the Olympic Trials. It was my fifth US title and it was a great experience. Shortly after the nationals, I went to Chicago for a team building summit for team USA. It was a great experience to be able to listen to some of the keynote speakers as well as mingling with and getting to know some of the athletes that will be on team USA for their sports.
One of the most beneficial pieces of information that I pulled away from the event was to practice like it is competition and to compete like it is practice. Peter Vidmar, a 1984 Gold medalist gymnast, shared his experience of how at the end of every practice that he would pretend that he was doing the routine for the Gold at the Olympics and how that would motivate him. He said that if he nailed his routine that he would be on top of the world and he could go home and say, “I just won the Olympics.” If he didn’t do as well as he wanted, then that served as motivation for him to keep improving and to get it next time. I have been applying that into my own wrestling, and it has made a huge difference in my training. I feel so motivated and energized when I visualize myself wrestling for Olympic Gold. It is amazing!
Good luck to everyone. Love the game, improve daily, and enjoy the process!
