A good coach can shape an athlete’s entire sports career. Establishing a positive relationship between the coach and the athlete is crucial for boosting the athlete’s motivation levels and keeping them focused.
It’s also important for the coach to make sure the athlete’s sole focus is not just winning. A successful athlete is dedicated, inspiring, and constantly striving for success.
Throughout my career as an Olympic skeleton racer, I have found that there is no substitute for a coach who inspires you to do better each day and to become a better person, along with a better athlete. My coach is my mentor, and the positive things he has said to me have always kept me going.
Here are some great motivational messages I have gathered throughout the years from amazing coaches who have inspired my fellow athletes and me:
“Do it for love”
The love you have for your sport of choice is a powerful motivator to excel. This phrase was heard on TV as coach Frank Carroll reminded a nervous 18-year-old ice-skating champion, Gracie Gold, to push through.
Many coaches have used the passion and love for sports to motivate athletes to focus on the game at hand. And it works!
“Why not you? Why not us?”
Everyone remembers when the Seattle Seahawks won the 2014 Super Bowl. The team still recalls how their quarterback, Russell Wilson, inspired them by making them focus on the positives.
The question, “why not me?”, can make an athlete assess their skills more honestly so they believe in themselves. This is why it’s such a powerful mantra.
“Do not undervalue yourself. Be able to express your value and what impact you can make.”
Self-doubt is one of the main reasons why many athletes are unable to achieve greatness. Katie Smith, WNBA assistant coach, inspired her team through her journey of winning three gold medals in the Olympics. She attributed her wins to having confidence in her abilities and valuing her contributions.
“A successful person never loses… They either win or learn!”
An athlete’s career is full of highs and lows. Some games you just don’t win—and that’s fine. But if you quit, you don’t deserve success. As per John Vincent Calipari, the famous American basketball coach, losing doesn’t have to mean that you and your skills weren’t enough. It’s the mindset of learning from losses and taking each hardship in your stride that makes an athlete successful in the long run!
Looking for inspiration to keep moving forward with your athletic career? Check out my journey as a small-time athlete from Ghana, to becoming the first Skeleton athlete from Africa to win a skeleton race
After proving my athletic abilities in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics 2018, I am now training for the Beijing Olympics 2022 with my eyes on Africa’s first Winter Olympics medal.
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