Whilst the Irish summer has not brought the weather we have been hoping for just yet, we have been spoilt with high profile sporting events.
Wimbledon’s tennis, the Euro’s soccer, Tour de France cycle race, and the Open golf tournament in Scotland have just recently come to a close.
In Cork, the county is wearing red and white proudly and although our hurlers didn’t get to bring the Liam McCarthy cup home, the Cork camogie team continue to carry our hopes.
There is lots more sport in store as the Olympics has just begun in Paris.
Sport brings tremendous enjoyment and passion but what all these athletes have in common is belief.
As Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right.”
A sport I didn’t mention yet is table tennis, read on for its relevance…
Zhiying Zeng played table tennis at an elite level in China throughout her teenage years. A change in rules introducing a bi-coloured table tennis bat, caused her to quit when she was 20 in 1986, as the new requirement didn’t suit her style of play.
She thought her dream of competing in the Olympics was over.
She moved to Chile to work as a coach in 1989; set up a furniture business, married, had a family and made Chile her new home.
During the Covid19 lockdown, Zhiying, (or Tania as she is known in Chile), found her way back to table tennis. With restrictions lifted, she started competing again and more significantly winning almost all the tournaments she entered.
Within a short time, she had gained a place on Chile’s national team. Zhiying turned 58 this month and will be one of the oldest competitors at the Paris Olympics where she will represent Chile playing table tennis!
Remaining with the topic of table tennis, I want to mention the book “You Are Awesome” by Matthew Syed. The book is aimed at children but in my opinion, everyone would benefit from reading it.
Matthew Syed, an accomplished author, represented Great Britain at the Olympics playing table tennis in 1992 and 2000.
His book, whilst based on how he became good at table tennis, is about mindset and belief.
He gives an easy to understand explanation of the concept of fixed versus growth mindset as expounded by Carol Dweck.
A self described non-sporty person, Matthew adopted a growth mindset by believing he could improve his table tennis.
“A growth mindset is the belief that your ability is not fixed. You are not handed out a fixed pot of brilliance at birth. Instead you can grow and change your ability with practice, determination and effort.”
Matthew, now primarily an author rather than a table tennis player, goes on to explain how he breaks down his goals into separate elements and examines how he can make marginal gains in each area.
It’s a useful book for anyone looking to inspire a friend or family member or offer self-encouragement, if in pursuit of a challenging goal.
“Some people say I have attitude – maybe I do… but I think you have to. You have to believe in yourself when no one else does – that makes you a winner right there.” Venus Williams
“If we drop out when we hit problems, progress is scuppered, no matter how talented we are. If we interpret difficulties as indictments of who we are, rather than as pathways to progress, we will run a mile from failure. Grit, then, is strongly related to the Growth Mindset; it is about the way we conceptualise success and failure.” Matthew Syed
“I am the greatest. I said that before I even knew I was.” Muhammad Ali
Sinead Huskisson 