When Mind and Body Connect
As the 2021 Olympics come to an end, thousands of agile athletes proudly return to their hometowns with a gold, bronze, or silver medal which awards their remarkable participation in a plethora of sports. With these keepsakes in hand, winners from all over the world reflect upon their dedication and commitment, which are the stepping stones to their victories. While many outsiders watch the Olympics as a form of entertainment praising the extraordinary accomplishments, the recent withdrawal of Simone Biles has especially made me reflect upon the emotional aspect of being a well-known athlete.
Being a student-athlete myself I can only share my empathy for all of the athletes' participation. Whether it's being on the court waiting for your opponent's serve or creating the perfect amount of topspin with your racquet stress levels can be high. Participating on my school varsity tennis team has not only opened my eyes to the sportsmanship and compassion athletes share between one another but also the anxiousness. When it comes to competing, the emotional aspect of athletics is what can truly make or break an athlete.
Not being afraid to tackle challenges you face on the court is one of the best pieces of advice that has adhered to my presence. Although hearing or reading to “not be afraid” may sound easy when it comes to applying it, things can get a little more intense. Through my years of tennis, I have gained a great amount of knowledge of what it takes to improve by being surrounded by dedicated players. However, the emotional part of tennis was something that I did not hear too often. There is one coach in particular who stood out to me through my years of playing tennis. Not only did she assist me with improving my overall technique but helped me learn how to build my emotional strength as a player. As she would say on a blazing summer afternoon on the court, “Tennis is not about your physical performance rather your emotional performance. It is all in the mind.” By introducing me to a competitive environment where matchplay comes first, competing against other players is something that helped me build my strength emotionally. I am grateful for the experiences and advice that I have come across through the years. My main takeaway in athletics is that succeeding in a sport requires a mind and body connection. The key to success is simply holding within oneself a positive outlook, allowing you to be prepared for any emotional or physical challenge that may come your way.
