A champion (identical to the French, from the late Latin campio) is one who has repeatedly come out first among contestants in challenges (especially the winner of a tournament or other competition) or other test, one who is outstandingly skilled in their field.
Over the last weekend I witnessed 3 champions in their own rights and fields. Martina Navaratilova, Micheal Schumacher and Roger Federer.
Martina, born in Czech Republic, winner of 18 Grand Slam Single titles, 41 Grand Slam Doubles titles, 9 Wimbledon titles and the indisputably the greatest female tennis player of all time.
Michael, born in Germany, 7 is the number of F1 world championships, 90 is the number of races he has won and by sheer weight of numbers alone, the greatest F1 Driver ever.
Roger, born in Switzerland, winner of 9 Grand Slam titles, 11 Masters titles, and the present world No.1 in men’s tennis by a distance and practically a “living legend”.
One thing is sure; you don’t become a champion overnight!! Many factors go into making a champion. Firstly they have goals and missions, coupled with a burning desire for success and a great motivation to turn their dreams into reality. But it’s not merely wanting to become the best, but certainly goes beyond that.
No champion is alike in having the same set of characters to win. Every champion has a different reason, which propels him towards the goal. Wilma Rudolph, who astonished the world with her running abilities by winning three gold medals in the 1960s Olympic games, was born with a childhood disease that forced her to wear a special leg brace until she was 11. She said, "My first goal was to get rid of that ugly shoe and walk and run like the other kids." When she discovered she had talent, she wanted to be the best, but didn't dream she would become the best in the world. The great diver, Greg Loganis, had a similar childhood problem. Mary Lou Retton admitted that she wouldn't have become a champion without her coach. Some have fought back excruciating pain to win. For Mark Spitz, it was mostly pride and fear that brought him to seven goal medals at the Munich Olympic games.
There is so much we can learn from these champs, which can help us to become a “champion” in our own rights. We can implement some of these qualities in our professional lives; instill them in our peers and subordinates and build better organizations. We must be willing to forgo temporal pleasures to achieve a more worthwhile goal.
Martina and Michael may have bid adieu, but their legends will live forever…
