I get so unbelievably frustrated training players who just refuse to push past a certain point. Some players stop working hard when they feel too much sweat seeping out, while others stop pushing when their lungs start to hurt. Some people just refuse to go through pain. This story is for those people.
Al Oerter was a track-and-field superstar who won the gold medal for discus throwing in the 1956 and 1960 Olympics. Trying again in 1964, his top competition was a man who had already beat Al’s old records just with his practice throws! To make matters worse, Al tore the cartilage off the right side of his rib cage and badly damaged a cervical disc a week before the Olympics. Wearing a neck brace to dulll the pain, he amazingly managed to qualify for the finals. Of course, his doctor advised him to drop out because the pain was nearly unbearable.
At this point, Al was hit with an inner voice we all get at times, “Don’t make a fool of yourself. You’ve got en excuse. Withdraw!”
Still, Al suited up. Although his first throw managed to qualify Al for the last string of finalists, Al’s next two throws were failures and the pain on his side and neck only got worse. But Al had one last throw:
“He stepped back into the ring and threw the discuss one more time. It sailed over 200 feet down the field for a new world record – and Al’s third gold medal. Looking back on that day, Al said…
“The important thing for all of us to remember is that wherever we want to go in life, we won’t get there unless we bend all our efforts – mental, physical, and spiritual – toward that end.” (Lester Sumrall)
Some people simply give it their all. Some don’t. It’s amazing that people like Al can exist and push their bodies and minds to such incredible heights, while others can’t even push themselves to break a decent sweat. But I guess that’s why some people succeed while others….just don’t. I don’t know about you, but Al’s story has inspired me. My advice, let’s all try to be a little more like Al.
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