Bret Dudl Olympics Enthusiast

Why We Love the Olympics

Bret Dudl Olympic Games By Lenny Daniel

NBC has been broadcasting the winter Olympics the past two weeks and if you’re like most Americans, you’ve been tuning in to watch. There are many reasons why these games seem to capture our attention as a nation. Let me share a few:

- DRAMA: The bottom line is Hollywood couldn’t come up with some of the story lines that evolve during the Olympics: The Miracle on Ice during the 1980 Olympics when the USA hockey team shocked the heavily favored Russian team; the Tonya Harding-Nancy Kerrigan ice skating saga and Franz Klammer’s thrilling downhill race from the ‘76 Olympics are just a few Olympic events that are etched in our minds forever. Even during this year’s games in Vancouver, the Lindsay Vonn-Julie Mancuso ski competition, the Anton Ono speed skating saga and Bode Miller’s unexpected conquests have grabbed our attention. On an international stage, the Canadian figure skater’s gutsy performance just days after her mother’s shocking death, the Dutch skater’s elimination because of a bizzare lane violation, the Korean speed skater’s eliminations due to aggressive techniques and the figure skating battle between South Korea and Japan’s superstars have caught the world’s stage.

- SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE: The Olympics seem to have something for everyone. While men like to tune in to the Alpine skiing, hockey games and the bobsled events, our wives seem to be glued to the set during the figure skating competitions and ice dancing events. (I’m still not comfortable seeing men wear feathers and pink bows while they skip along the ice, but women worldwide sure seem to love it!). Teenagers love the snowboard events, the aerial ski jumping and the short track skating races.

- IT’S NEW AND DIFFERENT: Let’s face it, how often do we get to see ski jumping competitions on TV these days? Or Biatholons between Austria, Sweden and Norway. How about the best German lugers or Swiss skiers? It’s really the only time, networks seem to broadcast these events. As kids, we use to see ABC’s Wide World of Sports that featured some of these sports, but those days are gone. If it doesn’t get big ratings, they don’t air it so the Olympics give us a chance to see the world’s best athletes competing in sports we rarely get to see. And I find myself living vicariously through some of these young skiiers, who travel the world to train and compete in some of the most amazing winter villages our planet has to offer.

- PATRIOTISM: How many times do we feel more patriotic than we do during the Olympics? Who knew that you could find yourself rooting for a Curling team to get a medal or an American Skelton racer to bring home gold? And then be disappointed if it doesn’t happen! How excited we can get when the US hockey team pulls an upset and defeats Canada on their home ice? Or when Lindsay Vonn wins the downhill competition over Swiss, Austrian, French and German skiiers? It brings us together as a nation rooting for American athletes to bring home the Gold, and if not the Gold, then the silver or bronze. And all the while, we keep our eyes on the total medal count and smile with pride when we see the leader of all nations in the world is the United States! That alone is worth tuning in for.

Spirit of Working Hard Shown in the Olympics

Bret Dudl Hard Work Article By Tricia Smart

Parents often tell kids that to get what they really want to have to work hard. But is this the best way? Does working hard make you always get what you want? This is true for the most part but sometimes it is not true. So parents should not always tell kids that they will get what they want by working hard. They shouldn’t answer the question of how to get what you really want. Instead, parents should tell kids that if they work hard, they should feel good about themselves. Also, if they work hard and they don’t get what they were working for, they should just be happy about the work they did.

The problem with telling kids that they will always get what they want if they work hard is that sometimes they may not get it. The Olympics are on right now and you see many athletes that have worked their entire lives for one opportunity to get a medal. But, there are only three medals to give out and in each competition there are many more people than there are medals. So, lots of people have worked hard but lots of people won’t get to stand on that podium and received a medal. But, does this make their work any less great or impressive? Absolutely not! The work that all of these Olympic athletes put in is still amazing. The dedication to the sport and the ability to get to the Olympics is a fantastic achievement. Therefore, we should all feel proud about how hard they worked.

But, what if they thought that just because they worked hard they would get what they dreamed about? Then they would be very disappointed if they didn’t get the medal. So, hopefully they didn’t grow up with the idea that if they work really hard they would absolutely achieve the things that they desired. Hopefully, they learned that if they work hard they would feel really good about themselves at the end of the day. It is those athletes that we admire more than the ones that sit on the sidelines and pout when they don’t achieve their goal. This is why I love watching the Olympics. Because most of those athletes have that type of spirit and are proud of their own achievements regardless of what medal or lack of medal they get. I still remember the time when I saw Michelle Kwan missed out on getting the gold medal for the second time in her career. Afterwards she was so gracious, and talked about how she was so happy to have achieved so much. She showed us what a winner is and how winners react in every situation.

Lessons on Mindset From the Winter Olympics

Bret Dudl Tips To Succeed In Any Area Of Life By Annette Huygens-Tholen

The Olympics represent the pinnacle of success for the majority of sports in the world. Athletes dedicate themselves to representing their country in a competition held only once every four years. What can anyone learn from these athletes about what it takes to succeed in any area of life?

1. Believe in your Dreams – many athletes defy the odds and overcome adversity to realise their dream of becoming an Olympian. Many were told they didn’t have what it takes. For many, if they had decided to ‘be real’ with their goals then they would never have dared to imagine competing in the Olympics. Some dreams stopped at becoming an Olympian, some dreamed of being a Gold Medalist.

Take Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong, nicknamed the Snow Leopard, representing Ghana in the Alpine Skiing. An unlikely participant, having taken up the sport just 5 years ago, learning to ski at an indoor centre in Scotland. One of the slowest down the mountain, Kwame is creating success in his own way and gaining recognition for it.

Lesson: Never let anyone stop you from dreaming B.I.G. – Bold Inspiring Goals. Put a goal out there and commit to it and you will find a way to make it happen.

2. Courage – there are many examples of courage through the Winter Olympics with so many of the sports posing risk to life and limb. Many athletes competing report having recovered from broken bones, concussion and sprains – and yet here they are, undeterred, keeping the end in mind. Their greatest competition is within themselves winning the mental game it takes to perform at such a high level.

Consider the luge competitors, competing on a track just days after the death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili; Canadian Ice skater Joannie Rochette having the courage to take the ice and win the Bronze medal just days after the death of her mother.

Lesson: Find the courage to face your fears and do it anyway.

3. Resilience – athletes suffer setbacks at one point in their lives, and they get back up again. Some are competing at their 2nd or 3rd Olympics, desiring to emulate and/or improve on past performance.

Slovenian cross-country skier Petra Majdic fell three metres down an embankment in training, breaking four ribs. She didn’t let this stop her and pushed through 3 qualifying races to make the finals and to then win Bronze. Remarkable!

Lesson: There will be obstacles in your way as you seek out your own success. How much do you want it? What are you prepared to endure to win your prize?

4. It’s not over ’til it’s over – athletes show that you have to keep going until the end and finish strong. In skiing and snow-boarding events anything can happen with crashes and slip-ups. Those who hang-on can still have a chance to win.

Back in 2002 Australia’s Stephen Bradbury was coming last in the short-track speed-skating when all 4 competitors in front of him tripped and got entangled with each other opening up the way for Bradbury to skate through to a Gold Medal.

In 2006 Lindsey Jacobellis of the Unites States had a clear lead in the snowboard cross and went for a twisting grab in the air of her board – this caused her to crash and Swiss Tanja Frieden passed her by.

Lesson: Keep going right through to the end because you never know what opportunity falls your way.

5. Winning is in the process – successful athletes focus on the process because they know that is how the game is won.

When Australian Torah Bright prepared for her second run, she needed to perform after crashing in her first run. Standing at the top, Torah appeared to be relaxed and mentally prepared for her run. She knew what she had to do, and set out to do what she had practiced over and over again The outcome was a Gold medal.

Lesson: Success is about doing what you love and loving the process. Let go of the need for a particular outcome boosts your chance of realizing your goal.

6. Weigh up the Risks – many Winter Olympics events have scoring with points won/loss on degree of difficulty. Athletes know there are times to play safe and there are times to take risks. Someone might need to land a jump in order to qualify, or to stay on their feet to finish a race. When it comes to the final rounds, athletes are going for their most difficult tricks and attacking their race in order to be the best. Not everyone succeeds when they dare to risk, but better to have gone for it and create the opportunity to win, then to play safe and never know what could have been possible.

In claiming Austria’s first Alpine gold medal for the 2010 Winter Olympics, Andrea Fischbacher claimed that she ‘attacked from start to finish’ and it was thought that favourite Lindsay Vonn skied too conservatively and was relegated to third.

Lesson: There will be times you will need to risk failing in order to succeed. The higher the prize, the higher the risk you will need to take.

7. Celebrate – you always see the Gold Medalist celebrating their win, they are at the top. There is mixed celebration from those who come 2nd, 3rd and those who don’t medal. The one who acknowledges what they have achieved, rather than what they have not, are the most satisfied and fulfilled. Knowing that you have given it your all and have done your best in the moment, it’s now time to celebrate your achievement.

Lesson: Be grateful for what you have achieved knowing that this is a stepping stone to even greater things.

8 Lessons From the Olympics – How to Overcome Fears

Bret Dudl Spiritual Excellence By Rosemary Lichtman, Ph.D.

Ever since the first modern Olympic games were held in 1896, athletes have worked hard to ‘go for the gold.’ Baron Pierre de Coubertin brought the ancient Greek Olympiad back to life to recreate the ideals of physical, mental and spiritual excellence demonstrated by the competitors there. This year, the athletes at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver continue this tradition. They’re training long hours, maintaining a positive attitude, and overcoming their fears – all in an attempt to accomplish their personal best.

Although you may not be vying for any medals, you can learn about triumphing over worry from the stories of athletes around the world. Here are 8 obstacles to consider as you map out your own personal strategy for success.

Overcome fear of failure. For some, failure signifies humiliation and the loss of self-esteem. But when the goal is to perform to the best of your ability, you can feel good about yourself even when you don’t come in first place. As Coubertain stated in the Olympic creed, “The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.” Stay focused on your growth and the steps you take, not the outcome. Canadian skier Alexandre Bilodeau personified this ideal. He envisioned his courageous brother as a role model and, in the process, won the gold medal in moguls.

Overcome fear of success. Does thinking about what might happen, after you actually achieve a victory, stop you in your tracks? Or do you worry that you won’t meet others’ high expectations of you once you win? Believing you must perform perfectly sometimes stands in the way of achieving your goal. U. S. figure skater Evan Lysacek had to deal with this stress at the Olympics, admitting, “I did have some extra pressure coming in as the reigning world champion.” He rose to the occasion and skated with passion and skill, winning the gold medal and savoring the experience.

Overcome fear of competition. Performance anxiety is a common and familiar phobia. Speed skater Apolo Ohno is no stranger to competition, having conquered his own fears and come away a champion, on both the short-track and the dance floor. Entering many races, he has already beaten the record for the most U.S. medals in the Winter Games. Ohno doesn’t always win, but he strives to perform to the best of his ability each time he competes. To overcome stage fright, there are many techniques you can employ: put the competition into perspective; do deep breathing and relaxation exercises; concentrate on your own actions, not those around you; practice, practice, practice.

Overcome fear of sacrifice. After 46 years of consistently taking the gold medal in pairs figure skating, Russia/U.S.S.R. was finally was shut out from the podium. How did China’s Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo manage such a feat? They endured considerable sacrifice along the way. The oldest skaters in Vancouver, they have been together for 18 years, married for the past three. After victories despite numerous injuries, they retired in 2007. But two years later, they put their marriage vows and personal life on hold in order to retrain, living in the athletes’ dorms as they worked to fulfill their dreams of Olympic gold. As you set important goals for yourself, recognize that you too may need to give up some pleasures along the way.

Overcome fear of risks. In order to succeed as Olympiads, athletes need to conquer their fear of the unknown and go for the gold anyway. According to Canadian hockey great Wayne Gretzky, “You miss 100% of the shots you never take.” Snowboarder Shaun White understands taking measured risks and won the men’s halfpipe gold medal by hard work and his readiness to take chances. Although he had already won after his first run, he chose to attempt his difficult, signature moves in a second run. Exuberant after accomplishing his ‘Double McTwist 1260,’ he said, “I have fun, I have dreams, I have goals, and I’m just now trying to do them.” After your own preparation, outline the risks you’re comfortable taking and then follow through with gusto.

Overcome fear of change. With poor weather conditions in Vancouver, many events were postponed, throwing off schedules. Athletes had to mentally adjust to these shifts and still be ready to compete. One athlete who initiated her own change was figure skater Yuko Kawaguchi. She gave up her Japanese citizenship and moved to Russia to be trained by legendary coach, Tamara Moskvina. Although not medaling at the Games, she lived her dedication to her sport by her move. When you are forced to modify your own original strategy, don’t hesitate to put your Plan B into action. It just might be a winner.

Overcome fear of pain. Downhill skier Lindsey Vonn severely bruised her shin during training last month and feared it might prevent her from competing in the Olympics. But she tried anyway, saying before the race, “It’s tough…I know what I have to do. I know how to ski. It’s just fighting the pain.” And fight it she did, winning the gold medal in the women’s downhill. After, she commented on her efforts, “Nothing comes for free.” You may have your own pain – physical or emotional – to work through as you pursue your goals. Keep in mind the determination you need to succeed as you struggle to prevail.

Overcome fear of pleasure. Lindsey Jacobellis skid off course in the snowboard cross semi-finals, once more loosing a chance at a medal. After her initial frustration, she shared her thoughts with reporters, “I still can have fun in some way. I just felt like doing a nice, fun truck-driver grab, that’s the spirit that it is.” Other competitive snowboarders agreed with her attitude. Nate Holland commented, “It’s not always about winning. It’s about fun, style, showing your stuff.” And Nick Baumbartner explained, “It’s not about the finish…it’s all about the journey. It’s all about taking the wild ride.” So, even when you’re in the midst of a competition of your own, don’t forget to enjoy the process and have fun.

2010 Winter Olympics and the Athletes’ Foot Health

Bret Dudl Winter Olympics By Dr Andrew Schneider

With the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics quickly approaching, I start to think about all the amazing athletes that will be competing at these games. It is amazing the speed, agility and climate that these athletes perform under. I am not only amazed at the talent that the athletes at the winter Olympics possess but also how well they perform considering the impact they are putting on their feet.

When it comes to the winter Olympics the first thing that you have to remember is that these athletes are performing in cold conditions. Whenever it is cold outside your body attempts to keep itself warm by constricting the superficial blood vessels in the extremities to push more of that warm blood to your vital internal organs. This is why when it is cold outside you are more likely to get frostbite on your toes, fingers, ears and nose then any other area of your body.

Since winter sports are played in cold conditions athletes are forced to make sure they have thick socks on their feet to make sure that they stay as warm as possible. The problem is that many winter sports require athletes to wear shoes that are tight and awkward and do not always go well with thick bulky socks. For example, if you are a skier, then you know that you want to keep your feet warm in your ski boots but need to make sure that the socks will stay in place. All skiers know that if your socks develop a small wrinkle in them while you are skiing then you are in for some terrible blisters and even bruises on your feet and shins.

The last thing that amazes me about the winter Olympics is the way many of these sports put amazing amounts of pressure on athlete’s feet. Think about figure skating, downhill skiing or ski jumping. All of these winter sports take you from standing still to extremely high and dangerous speeds in just seconds. They also can thrust you into the air and require you to land on your feet in uncomfortable and unstable shoes. For this reason the winter games only allows the best of the best to compete because these games can be down right dangerous, leading to twisted ankles, broken feet, concussions and even death!

When you watch the winter Olympics this February keep in mind how much pressure and torque these athletes are putting on their feet while you are cheering them on and you will be even more amazed then ever before at how talented these athletes really are.