It's Easier From The Couch

Some of those who are watching sport events on TV tend to forget that it's not easy to compete and win, every athlete is making sacrifices that are not visible in front of the TV. This happens a lot and it's not fair to those who are working hard and sweating for years to get to a competition and win a medal. It's easy to stay on the couch, drinking beer and eating popcorn or other junk food and criticize athletes. Behind every medal, regardless of the color, behind every success there are sacrifices and years of hard work.

I remember an interview with a Hungarian swimmer years ago, after she retired from competing. She said she had to wake up at 5 am every day so she can have her morning swimming practice before school and after classes she had a second one. Each day when the alarm clock rang she said she can't do it anymore, she quits. Obviously she didn't, she woke up, did her training, went to school, did her second training and her hard work and sacrifice that she made payed off.

Another example is a Romanian gymnast who had to move to another city at the age of 6 in order to be able to do gymnastics. She had to stay at a family she didn't know because the boarding school for gymnasts wasn't ready yet. Now imagine yourself being away from your parents at the age of 6 in a strange city, living with strangers and having a very strict schedule every day. It's not easy at all.

One of my favorite athlete is Usain Bolt, who I respect a lot. I'm looking up to him for what he has accomplished over the years. In my opinion he's an exceptional person who has worked hard to get where he is now.

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If you don't know him, I'd recommend you to watch his movie and learn about his life. I Am Bolt (2016)

It's easy to comment and criticize athletes laying on the couch, eating junk food and drinking beer. It's harder when you actually have to get up early in the morning to do your training session every day, no matter if it rains or shines. When I was doing running trainings my favorite time for training was in the morning as it wasn't so hot yet. Bolt lives and trains in Jamaica most of the time, where it's hot all the time. He has no choice other than to get used to the hot weather and do the best he can to be prepared to win.

If you want exceptional results you have to get out of your comfort zone and do exceptional things. I'd send those who are commenting laying on the couch to do two days of training in the same conditions as athletes are training. Let's see how would that experience change their perception and behavior.