Congratulations Athletes

The feeling this year at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center, where I live and train, is very different than in years past.  This Olympic Training Center is occupied mostly by summer Olympic hopefuls and past summer Olympians.  Many of the athletes are going through their Olympic trial process or have already completed the process.  Some have earned their bid on the 2012 Olympic team and most have not.  It is said that for every one athlete that makes an Olympic team, ten athletes do not.  So while some athletes here are excited and celebrating current success their teammates which often times are their roommates are mourning the realization of a dream unfulfilled. 

It is a lifelong dream for all the athletes at the training center to compete at an Olympic games.  Most athletes have pushed their bodies to the limit daily in hopes that one day they will represent our country on the biggest athletic stage.  A majority of these athletes will never earn that chance and often times we do not take the time to appreciate the effort put into not making the Olympic team.  To me, it is important to remember that making an Olympic Team does not change the person you are.  Our accomplishments do not define our character, our values or how hard we have worked to try and complete our goals.  Each athlete is the same person with or without an Olympic experience.  Just because an Olympic spot was not earned by an athlete, does not mean they put any less effort toward their goals than the athletes that did.  With that said, congratulations to all the athletes who have earned a spot on the 2012 Olympic Team and congratulations to all the athletes who have not!