“There’s that French expression ‘If only the young knew, and the elderly could still do,’” she said.
“How many athletes have I interviewed who say, ‘Oh, if only I could have my mind of this (old) age and be back on the world stage as a (young) skater, golfer, tennis player … And so, I got in better shape both body and mind than even in my twenties.” -Diana Nyad
At age 64, American long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad became the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage. Her 111 mile, 53-hour swim was historic and the capstone on a long career of record-breaking firsts in her sport. In order for Diana to complete such an incredible feat, especially at an age when many thought the swim impossible, she had to pay meticulous attention to caring for her body in preparation for the long journey. Staying hydrated and properly fueled was of the utmost importance. “You see pictures of when Diana did this 30 years ago and she’d stop and drink a Coke and eat a piece of cake,” said Mark Sollinger, one of Nyad’s drivers. “She’s come a long way. She had to figure out her training, her food, her weather forecasting, her shark protection, her goggles, her asthma, how to protect herself against jellyfish, etc. She used visuals in her mind to stay focused on the goal.”
| If you don’t take care of your body, your body won’t take care of you. |
Summary
- The importance of taking care of your body as an athlete off the field is even more criticalthan your time spent on the field.
- One thing that separates the good athletes from the great ones and the rising stars from the legends is the way an athlete cares for his or her body.
- When you train like an athlete, eat like a nutritionist, and sleep like a baby, you will perform like a champion.
Reflection
1. Can you recall a time in your career when you were not taking care of your body and it limited your success as an athlete?
2. Why do you think many athletes often fail to take better care of their bodies?
3. How has your lack of bodily care impacted your athletic performance?
Moving Forward
| Consider: Make 3 lists: Keep, Stop, Start. List what you need to keep doing, start doing, and stop doing to better take care of your mind and body. | Implement: Tweet at someone or send a text to someone who has helped take care of your health, allowing you to perform at your best. |
“Your body, like any machine, will work it’s best when well-oiled and well maintained. If you leave your car out in the elements, never perform maintenance, and never fix the little problems, before long you’ll have a 3000-pound paperweight on your hands. The sad news is that you can get a new car, but you only get one body,” -Graham Lutz.
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