Athlete Anecdote - Heroes

As an athlete who aspires to reach peak performance, I feel stressed when expectations are set upon me. The more you achieve, the higher people’s expectations. When Simone Biles, an Olympic gymnast, decided to withdraw from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to mental health, it taught me that sometimes it is okay to not feel the best at times. It is okay to take a break when you need it. Because of this, I withdrew from tournaments for some time. 

Once, I injured myself due to over-practicing. It was not easy. Waking up, I have nothing to look forward to. However, when I learned that Jackie Joyner-Kersee, an Olympic track and field athlete, endured hardships due to her knee injury, I realized I was not alone. I am inspired by her since she taught me resilience is not bouncing back after a setback, but learning and growing from it. Even though I was not able to play, there is a saying that “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Success does not come overnight but through years of consistent training. It is okay to take a break, but the persistence that comes after is what matters.

Female athletes are often underrepresented in male-dominated sports. I felt that when I lost against male athletes, as they were physically stronger, therefore encouraged to pursue sports compared to women. Megan Rapone’s activism for gender discrimination taught me that being an athlete is not just about achievements in sports; it’s about making an impact and inspiring others throughout your journey. Because of that, I started making friends with female athletes on my school’s sports team. We practice and improve together. Although our skills are not the best, it is our endurance that matters. We will support each other during hardships, whatever events occur in our lives.