To My Magnificent Agents, Staff, and Friends:
The American Heritage Dictionary defines a champion as “one that wins first place or first prize in a competition,” but it also offers the following an alternative meaning of champion, “one that is clearly superior or has the attributes of a winner.” Most of us tend to think in terms of finishing first as being the only measurement of being a winner or a champion, but is that too myopic a view? Can a loser actually win and be considered a champion? Before you discount or reject such a premise, consider the story of Derek Redmond.
Derek Redmond was prepared for the 400m semifinal race at the Olympics in Barcelona in 1992. He felt he was in the best shape of his life. Despite eight operations on his Achilles tendons over the past four years, he felt very confident. His father Jim, sitting in the stands, also had high hopes. Jim and his son were very close and he made it to all of his son’s championship races.
As the race began, Derek got off to a good start, but coming around the first bend into the backstretch of the track, tragedy struck as Derek’s hamstring went out. Initially he thought he had been shot because the pain was so great. His leg would not function and he crumpled over in agony.
London’s The Guardian newspaper quoted Derek later as he recalled that moment, “Everything I had worked for was finished. I hated everybody. I hated the world. I hated hamstrings. I hated it all. I felt so bitter that I was injured again. But, I told myself I had to finish the race.” I kept hopping round. Then, with 100 meters to go, I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was my old man.”
Derek hopped on one leg for half a lap before his father came to his aid. Seeing his son in such pain, he pleaded with him to stop. “You don’t have to do this, Son.” Through his agony, Derek replied, “Yes, I do, Dad.” Hugging his son, Derek’s father said, “Then we will finish it together!” In each other’s grasp, they inched their way to the finish line arm-in-arm to a standing ovation from the crowd of over 65,000 spectators. Now, nearly twenty years after this remarkable event, not many people remember who won that semi-final race or who even won the final. But, many still remember Derek Redmond and his father. One a champion for his perseverance, the other a champion for his love.
Watch this three minute video. It defines what it truly means to be a champion. http://youtu.be/kZlXWp6vFdE
Anyone can give up, it’s the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that’s true strength. That is how even a loser can win and become a champion.
Have an AWE-full weekend!
Bill
P.S. Please indulge my early delivery of this week’s Inspiration and the absence of my weekly missive over the next two weeks. I will be absent enjoying the company of my lovely wife in New York City and then on a cruise up the east coast into Canada. I am sure that when I write my next piece on October 14th, I will have much to share with you about the myriad of sights, sounds, smells and tastes that inspired us during our sojourn.