The heart of an athlete

"You will not have greatness until you understand that the strongest muscle is the heart. To me that’s the soul of the Olympic Games."– Andrea Bocelli

It’s always been any athlete’s dream to compete in the Olympics, the fact that they get to compete in the games, even without winning any medals, is victory in itself.

I had planned to write an article featuring Filipino swimmers in the Olympics, who were trained in our home turf, who will have the privilege of carrying our national colors in Athens. Around this time our athletes should be leaving for the 26th Olympiad in Athens.

Did you know that the Olympic torch, which is on its way to Athens, goes on an elaborate six-continent, 34-country tour? The flame is escorted around the world aboard two Boeing 747s named Zues and Hera (there have to be two just in case one goes down). The torch is accompanied by 110 full-time staff, plus 20 ceremonial virgins (though you don’t have to really be one), and the total cost for all of this is $50 million. And if ever the flame goes out onboard the plane, it heads back to Olympia, Greece just to be relit. And all of this just for a flame? (I read this in one of the issues of the Asian Wall Street Journal.)

Well, an athlete’s journey to the Olympics wouldn’t create as much brouhaha as the torch but the energy, passion and struggles they undergo to be able to qualify are just as much if not more.  

As a swimmer I know the hardships an athlete goes through to achieve his goals in the sport he loves. And even if he knows he’s worked hard, really hard, and made a lot of sacrifices, there are times he doesn’t really reach the goal he’s aiming for – though it may seem it’s not entirely his fault. Sometimes providence has a way of intervening. But that’s what makes an athlete’s spirit different; he learns to assess the situation, rise above it and not wallow in bitterness or self pity. Athletes aren’t the type to back down from a challenge so easily.  

I especially applaud the athletes who belong to the underdog sports for they don’t really get much attention or support compared to those, say, in basketball, even if we know these underdogs might be able to give greater honor to the country. There are not-so-well-known athletes out there who endure tremendous physical and emotional pressure to achieve excellence and to bring honor to our country.

They don’t get pampered, nor do they enjoy moral support. They rely on themselves. These are the ones with the strongest muscle – their heart. "Self steam creates self-esteem" so they saying goes.

But there are times when their heart is tested, and some fail, when they let their capabilities get to their head thinking that they are better then they really are, and the consequences can really be damaging, especially to their peers. Once you give in to arrogance and selfishness in your sport, the downfall of your career begins.

No athlete must advance at the expense of another athlete. And if the inevitable happens and they are at the receiving end of unfair treatment, like the chance to compete at the Olympics, is taken away from you, it is indeed painful but this is what tests an athlete’s inner strength. It’s a test bigger than any competition he has faced before. Eventually the wounds heal. And although it is still a long way before the Beijing Olympics – now is the time to strive harder, be bolder and more determined.

One might think success in the Olympic Games is all about physical strength and athletic skill. However, the truth is, no matter how physically gifted an athlete is, the strongest muscle in the body is really the heart, and it is inner strength that must be cultivated first.  

This article is dedicated to the five swimmers who could have represented us in this year’s Olympics but won’t – Lizza Danila, Marichi Gandionco, Gerard Bordado, Luica Dacanay and Mark Kalaw.

* * *

E-mail the author at ketsupluis@hotmail.com