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_This is somewhat of an extension of my last blog, but I suppose it will be more focused on this years Paralympic games - an event that about 400 athletes across Britain will spend most of the next 9 months thinking about!
Until five months ago, I too was going to be one of the athletes I describe above. However, we all know I chose to leave that life behind. I've woken up on the first morning of a Paralympic year twice before, hoping my name would be on that all important 'selected athletes' list. So, I am all too aware of how these athletes will be feeling.
At the end of a games/four year paralympic cycle, everyone thinks the next games will take an age to come around - four years does sound like a long time. However, time flies, training cycles come and go, and before we know it the opening ceremony is about to commence in all it's glory!!
The de-brief of each Games always (for us swimmers anyway) includes the words "its only x# of days until the start of the next games…".  Given that these words hit the athletes merely 12 hours after they have laid down their tools and are preparing to celebrate their recent achievements, you can clearly hear the internal groan coming from each athlete in the room.  In that precise moment, all these athletes are thinking is "job done" and "i'm ready to go home" - and rightly so after being away working, without a day off, for about 25 days.  I'll admit, when I first heard those dreaded words, I was most displeased - we hadn't even got through the Athens 2004 Closing Ceremony yet!  But, within a blink of an eye, I was stood at the blocks preparing to qualify for Beijing 2008.

The truth is, from my experience, when an athlete hears how many days are left until the next Games, they tend to think two conflicting thoughts at the same time.  The first is "ahhh thats over 1000 (or whatever the number is at the time) days, thats plenty of time to get everything right".  Of course, that first thought is a relaxing thought, and should not be pushed aside as I think it could be the only thing keeping an athlete sane and grounded.  however, speaking from experience, it should also not be over used as everyday is vital for any athlete.
The second thought that runs through an athlete's mind at this point is this: "agggh ok, so much can happen in that time! I need a plan; what can I do to make sure I'm definitely in this room in four years time!?".  This may seem like a stressful thought but its also positively realistic.
In essence, athletes who are most likely to make their respective selections will adopt both these thought processes simultaneously - to remain realistic yet not so stressed that everything falls apart at the last hurdle.  The last hurdle, incidentally, being between now and July/August.

I'm not an athlete now, so I can sit here feeling excited about watching the final product of all the hard work come August/September.  However, I am very aware, that despite many misconceptions of Paralympic athletes, these people (along with Olympic athletes) will work harder than most other people in the world.  After taking a maximum of three days off over the Christmas and New year period, their next lot of time off will not be granted until the very end of September - thats over 9 months of continuous training and competing.

If you are reading this and still have any misconceptions of Paralympic Athletes, current or future, regarding their purpose, dedication or how hard they work, I urge you to shake them off.  For the majority of athletes, certainly for me and those I've worked with over the years, their sport is their job and their life!! Athletes don't get second chances - once London 2012 starts they will give it everything they have.  And when I say everything, I really do mean it.

Get behind the Paralympics!  By the time we settle down to watch the London 2012 Opening Ceremony, our athletes will have done approximately 1460 days of mental and physical work to be there!

 


Comments

donna hall
04/01/2012 12:28am

I really enjoyed that read and never a truer word spoken. Having watched and learned the sheer commitment, determination and motivation shown by yourself through out your career, I for one will be supporting the British paralympic team. I know for many of the athletes 2012 has been the pure focus for months, more so many years, and without question an on going dedicated lifestyle!

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