“Gold medals aren’t really made of gold. They’re made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts.”—Dan Gable
Last night, I watched the Finals of the NCAA Wrestling Championships. Not a single match disappointed. I watched the son of a high school teammate lose a hard-fought match to a wrestler who may have won the last title for Stanford Wrestling. I watch the cousin of another teammate also fall short of his dream. I watched David Carr carry on the legacy of his father, Nate. In the final match of the evening, I watch Spencer Lee of Iowa (one of four Western PA wrestlers in the Championships) win his third title—with two torn anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs). In his interview, he said: “Excuses are for wusses.” I have to agree. (My friend, Paul, replied: “Apparently, so are ACLs.”)
Dan Gable famously taught us that gold medals are “made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts.” I would add that silver (and bronze, for that matter) medals are, as well. Indeed, the will to step out onto the mat is made with the same. Success—in life, as well as in wrestling—is “made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts,” and, yes, “excuses are for wusses.”
I have to ask myself: “What are my ‘torn ACLs’?” What am I using for excuses? We may think we lack what we need to succeed, but that is an opportunity, not an excuse. Nothing can hold us back from what we desire but a lack of effort, a lack of determination, and a lack of guts. We may come up short (out of all NCAA Division I Wrestlers, there are only ten champions), but there is victory in the pursuit of championships (success). Nothing should hold us back from the pursuit. After all, in wrestling and life, there are no losers—only winners and learners.
Be your best today be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!!
Photo source: The Des Moines Register