Bring Our Best Performance

MUSINGS FROM A COACH - 10 FEBRUARY '26

I, like many of you, just love the Winter Olympics. My go-to sports? Alpine skiing, Nordic and Cross Country skiing, Speed Skating, Short Track, Biathlon, Ski Jumping and the new sport on the block, Ski Mountaineering. And I will publicly admit that I watched all the Curling events with the "Cory and Korey" - yes, my guilty pleasure.

As I was watching the men's downhill, as always happens to me, I was blown away with the fearlessness, skill and mental fortitude that all these competitors have doing a completely dangerous and insanely crazy event. I just love it! After the American, Bryce Bennett, finished his run (they only get two practice runs and one competition run), Heather Cox (a Boise native, BTW) was interviewing him.

Heather asked, "Bryce Bennett, in his third and final Olympics marks his final downhill race - so how would you describe your emotions as you crossed that finish line knowing it was your last?"

And here's the pure gold that Bryce went on to answer,

"I think the Olympics are obviously something special to be a part of and I think a lot of it gets overshadowed by obviously winning medals, and that’s what everyone here probably has the intention to do - myself included.

But there’s also a piece of the Olympics that’s super important. And it’s about, you know, bringing your best performances. And today the time wasn’t there, but I honestly skied the way I wanted - a few things probably didn’t line up exactly, which is tough, and you’re trying to do that, but I brought, honestly, my best skiing and I’m proud of it."

Watching the downhill, we can only imagine the commitment it takes to go fast enough to just about crash, but not crashing. The snow is constantly changing, the light, the wind and no two skiers ski the exact same lines. There are so many things out of the control of the skiers, and it's so dangerous, that what Bryce states above IS the one true goal that each of them can control.

It's the difference between Outcome Goals (medals) and Performance Goals (your best ski). And it's a reminder for all of us on the attitude to bring to endurance events: Bring our best performance and be proud of it. That's success.

 Here's the interview

Gratefully,Mark

CEO Team MPI