MANAGING EXPECTATIONS

Every Olympic athlete comes to the Games having demonstrated by his/her speed, strength, skill, endurance, fearlessness, versatility and/or ability that he/she is among the best in the world at his/her sport. Whether they participate in a trials & elimination system or the governing body of the sport selects them, each one has already spent a lot of time, expense and effort just to arrive as an Olympic athlete ready for competition. At some point in this process, expectations emerge. Valid or not, dreams are born and nourished and they flourish. Expectations are difficult to control and impossible to turn off, especially when fed by media, family, friends and even more so when they’re based on previous successes and near-successes. Let’s take a look at US track star Tyson Gay ’s expectations. By virtue of his record in 2007, he was considered “The Fastest Man in the World�. He held the world record in the 100-meters. He was “expected� to medal in the 100m, t...