The British are often seen as apologetic losers, too modest to win anything. Accepting defeat too easily. You only have to look at both our top football teams to know how good we are at crumbling when the going gets close to success.
I’m not knocking them, I’m the same. I don’t have a winner’s mentality. I don’t have that clear focus. My abilities lie in different directions.
And yet there are four people in particular that proved what the British can be, and shocked the life out of the nation. And probably most of the world. Not including the 1966 World Cup winning football team, that was more of an earthquake.
Ice Skating
Our winter sports record used to be non existent. Not surprising when there are no sports focusing on heavy rain, dull skies, and grey days. We do get the most beautiful frosty mornings but they’re not thick enough to learn to ski on. We don’t get a lot of winter practice, nor, years ago, did we get the investment.
Until one man – John Curry.
He arrived on the ice as a thing of remarkable beauty, with the grace of a ballet dancer. He blew away the competition, then we got one gold medal, then two, then three! The we laid down for a few weeks to get over the shock.
Following him was this man:
Robin Cousins. He missed triple gold due to one stumble. He too was a thing of beauty on the ice, famous for the double back flip and 6’ high splits jump.
Of course finally:
Torvill and Dean. Not just incredible triple gold winners, but incredibly innovative on the ice. The first couple to risk dancing to one piece of music in the world championships, and succeed. They’re still inspiring today.
So young people
Of all the sports we do the winter sports were one where no one ever felt we’d achieve much. Our ice skating in particular was mediocre (through lack of investment NOT lack of ability). Yet four people not only overcame that, they redefined the way this country was seen. Since then investment has improved dramatically.
As such, don’t see where you’re born as defining you, wherever you’re born, never forget the Jamaican Bobsleigh Team. They came from a country where the weather was even less conducive to winter sports practice than here. But they had a dream, they pursued it, and they realised it. They didn’t win but they are legends who inspired others to chase their dreams.
Whether you’re British or otherwise, these people ignored the rules, they chased their dreams, and they won for all of us – everywhere.
Chasing a dream can be hard, disappointing, full of setbacks, but if you do it you do more than achieve for yourself, you achieve for everyone, you inspire others to try. You’re a gift to the world.
Oh…and older people
You may have to chase different dreams as you get older, or modify the youthful ones slightly, but you can always find a dream, chase it down, and nail it!
Deb xx
Deb Hawken - Amorah 