Soak In The Moment

MUSINGS FROM A COACH - 5 SEPTEMBER '24

Apparently, I am still processing the incredible performance by Team USA Paratriathlon on Monday in Paris for the Paralympics as I type this two days later than our normal Tuesday Newsletter.

While not every athlete had their best day, Team USA's eight-medal count is the largest of any one team since Paratriathlon became a Paralympic sport in 2016 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. To have so many athletes perform that well in the most competitive field to date was a gift to see. Incredible focus, support, sacrifice and preparation all contributed to their successes.

So what do you do when the day goes your way and you've achieved or surpassed your wildest expectations? You enjoy it all. These moments are fleeting as time moves forward pushing the experience behind us and into our memories. Often athletes who are lucky enough to achieve this spend more time on what's next, what they did wrong and how they could have done even better. I think that focus is misplaced. Like building a sandcastle on the beach, we only have a moment to admire the finished product before time takes it away. So my advice to all athletes - and something I remind myself often to do - is to soak in the moment. Pat yourself on the back and take it all in when things go your way. It's worth every moment. Congrats to Team USA!

  Gratefully,

Mark CEO Team MPI