Joseph Mestrallet’s Post

DO YOU LOSE THE GOLD… OR DO YOU *WIN* THE SILVER? Over the last few weeks I have really enjoyed watching the Olympics and I can’t wait for the Paralympics to start. As I was watching the different sports and cheering on the GB athletes, I was reminded about how quickly things can go wrong. No matter how much we leave no stone unturned in our preparations and no matter how much we might rehearse different scenarios to eliminate risk, things can and DO go wrong. Elite sport is not unlike any other aspect of life in that we prepare, we focus and we strive to perform to our best - but we can’t expect to perform to our best all the time and, what if our best isn’t good enough anyway? How do we even conclude that our best isn’t good enough? What do we use to even measure that? I was aware during the Olympics of a lot of negative talk about missing out on the gold by just a fraction of a second or just a couple of centimetres - and of course, those athletes won a silver medal. This got me thinking, in situations like this should we celebrate and be proud of what we have won, or should we be sad and berate ourselves for what we have lost? It’s a difficult one… As an ex-athlete myself I know how much focus goes onto winning GOLD! During my competitive days I lived in a four year cycle of European Championships, World Equestrian Games, European Championships, Paralympic Games and my goal was always to come home from the next championships with that precious gold medal. I have seven medals to my name - 3 x gold, 3 x silver and 1 x bronze. If I am honest, of course my gold medals mean so much to me, because they symbolise that at those times I was the best - I was european champion and I was also world champion… but you know, second and third in either in europe or in the world isn’t so bad either. My silver and bronze medals also mean a lot to me because they still show achievement, they still represent motivation, hours of work and relentless dedication. So, on those four occasions did I lose the gold medal?… No, I believe that I absolutely WON my silver and bronze medals and I did so with a sense of pride and achievement? What do *YOU* think? Is a silver or bronze medal a win or a loss? #mindset #motivation #motivationalspeaker

Olympic athletes are just different. On the left of the picture, in a blue polo shirt, is Daniel Martin Dockx, Spain's favorite dressage athlete for this Olympics. After delivering two fantastic seasons on his PRE, Malagueño, they were the only clear team member for Paris. On the right, riding the horse, is Claudio Castilla, the reserve rider for Spain. The story behind this picture? It’s a masterclass in grace. If you've ever worked with horses, you know how quickly things can go south. That’s exactly what happened. Upon arrival, Dani's horse, Malagueño, developed some swelling on his neck, failed the first horse inspection, and despite all efforts, didn’t improve. The team decided not to present the stallion for re-inspection. Imagine this: competing against your teammates for years, keeping yourself and your horse injury-free, earning a spot on the Olympic team, only for things to fall apart at the last minute. The schedule was already out, so the reserve pair, Claudio Castilla and Hi Rico, took Dani’s and Malagueño’s spot. Another athlete might have been jealous, upset, or thrown a tantrum. But Dani? Just look at the picture. He celebrated Claudio’s performance with pure joy and unwavering support. For me, this beautiful photo captured by Liz Gregg for Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) is one of the highlights of this year's Olympics. It’s a powerful reminder that true champions aren’t just defined by their victories but by their spirit and how they lift others. #ABondLikeNoOther #ASportLikeNoOther #Paris2024 #Resilience #Equestrian #OlympicSpirit #Dressage #TrueChampions #Leadership #Inspiration

#sport #competition #Parisolympics2024 #athletics **What It Takes to Be a Winner in a Highly Competitive Environment: Insights from the 2024 Olympic 100m Final** The 2024 Olympic 100m final was a spectacular showcase of athletic prowess, determination, and mental fortitude. Noah Lyles of the USA claimed the gold medal in a dramatic photo finish, edging out Jamaica's Kishane Thompson by just five-thousandths of a second. This race provides profound insights into what it takes to be a winner in a highly competitive environment. 1. **Mental Resilience and Confidence:** Lyles, despite not being the fastest man this year, entered the final with a strong mindset. His ability to remain calm and confident under pressure was crucial. "I’d say I was extremely curious as to what was going to happen… I’m curious as to what I’m going to do, how I’m going to pull this off," Lyles said post-race.This mindset is essential in any competitive field, where uncertainty and high stakes are common. 2. **Preparation and Adaptability:** Fred Kerley, who secured the bronze, exemplified the importance of preparation and adaptability. After a disappointing performance at the 2023 World Championships, Kerley revamped his training, nutrition, and mindset to return as a top contender. This adaptability and commitment to continuous improvement are key traits of successful individuals in any industry. 3. **Handling Pressure:** The final was filled with immense pressure, amplified by the electric atmosphere of the Stade de France. Lyles' ability to thrive under such conditions, rather than succumb to them, highlights the importance of mastering one’s nerves and using pressure as a motivator. 4. **Collaboration and Sportsmanship:** Even in a highly individualistic sport like sprinting, the camaraderie and sportsmanship displayed were noteworthy. After the race, Lyles acknowledged Thompson's effort, showing respect for his competitor. Such sportsmanship fosters a positive environment, even in cutthroat industries . 5. **Experience and Learning:** Thompson's reflections after the race reveal the importance of learning from every experience. Despite his initial disappointment, he recognized the value of the experience gained and the lessons learned, which will undoubtedly fuel his future success . In essence, the 2024 Olympic 100m final wasn't just a race; it was a masterclass in what it takes to be a winner. Mental resilience, meticulous preparation, the ability to handle pressure, sportsmanship, and a commitment to learning are all critical factors that distinguish winners in any competitive arena. Whether you're an athlete, a professional, or an entrepreneur, these principles can guide you to success. Quotes from online News sources: Shared video is from NBC sports as received. #WinningMindset #Olympics2024 #Leadership #CompetitiveEdge #NoahLyles #SuccessStrategies

Olympians are just normal people... Normal people with extraordinary dedication. Normal people with unwavering consistency. Normal people with a laser sight on their specialty. Stephen Nedoroscik is a prime example of the power of specialization. Making his Olympics debut this year, Stephen traveled to Paris with Team USA for exactly one event: the pommel horse. All day prior to taking the competitive 'field', Nedoroscik watched other events unfold, cheered on teammates, and prepared mentally for his time to compete. Then it was finally time. He took off his glasses, leveled his sights on the pommel horse, and executed an impossible routine with unearthly precision. His performance in this one event helped secure the United States' first Olympic medal since 2008. How can we take this inspiring story out of competitive sports and into the professional 'Olympics'? Maybe it's time to ask ourselves this question: If we became laser-focused on our specialty, what 'firsts' could we accomplish, and what goal could we actualize? #olympics2024 #olympics #specialization #interim #interimconsulting https://lnkd.in/eTjYBrTE

The Olympics are here! I am doing my best to remember my GCSE French! 🇫🇷 As we admire the spirit of human physical achievement and endurance, the enduring pressure and discipline required to attain a gold medal, it all has a price. Adam Peaty an 8 x world champion 16x European champion swimmer specialising in breaststroke ( all strokes are hard for me !) who won the gold medal in the 100 metre breaststroke at the 2016 Summer Olympics, the first by a male British swimmer in 24 years, and retained the title at the 2020 Summer Olympics in 2021, the first British swimmer ever to retain an Olympic title provided a much needed discussion on the mental toll of continual competition. Indeed, winning gold and being an Olympic champion is in itself not happiness or contentment as the great sportsman said. So it was refreshing to see and witness the raw emotion of someone who like us all in our professional careers and life are always in pursuit. However, we must Do something that you can enjoy and enjoy the process rather than always looking at the end goal. In an age of where being the only one and the only person to have achieved , the more rational process of being part of and actively striving for improvement and getting fulfilment from this as a self development drive should be celebrated. He won silver , but he was already a winner even before the clock stopped! #mindset #olympicwinners #ceomindset #lifegoals #resilience #lifefulfilment #healthylife #modernlife #olympics2024 #mentalhealthandwellbeing

Team Netherlands' Performance at the Olympic Games in France is mindblowing. Our athletes have won an impressive 21 medals so far! 🥇🥈🥉 TeamNL are currently 9th in overal standing (based on golden medals). Let's a have a data driven look to it: This achievement is remarkable if comparing with countries of similar size. 📊 Some facts: > The Netherlands currently has 10 gold, 5 silver, and 6 bronze medals (tonight 2 extra gold medals are realistic). > This translates to approximately 1.17 medals per million inhabitants, an impressive ratio compared to other (larger) countries. > Despite this we are not the "champions". That place has been in strong hands of Australia with a mesmerizing 1.65 medals/million inhabitants. For me these figures highlight the efficiency and effectiveness of our national sports program and the dedication of our athletes and coaches. With only 18 million people achieving such a result is exceptional. Hopefully in the next days we can even end up with a higher ratio! 🇳🇱 Go Team Netherlands! 🇳🇱 #Olympics #TeamNetherlands #Proud #Sports #MedalCount #Efficiency #Performance

💡 Olympics | The “National Service” Version | Imagine This (bear with me…..) 💡 The Olympics, the same events, the same stadiums, the same environment, the same coaches, but…. Instead of athletes, random people competed. You may receive a letter through your door, with the event competition you have 9-12 months to learn and train for… Imagine sitting there like on your GCSE results day, awaiting a letter, but instead of your exam results, it’s a random event you have been selected for, on the worlds biggest sporting stage. “Dan you have been selected for the Men’s Javelin Event in Berlin, 2025” (I’ve never even held a Javelin). It would give the general public the incentive to exercise, and also bring random nations from across the world to one large scale event. We would of course run it alongside the two events already being held (traditional and Paralympics) All funded by the IOC; - People who may have never travelled before, get to travel. - People who may not have much cultural background, get to experience something different - People who may not have a relationship with fitness, naturally get fitter - Money is generated by the Hosting Nation through low priced ticket sales and hospitality items. International Olympic Committee – IOC Thank me later. #goneoffonatangent #olympics #alwaysthinking

A perspective on systems related to developing Olympians: What drives #performance? #Olympics #Rowing #Systems #Sport #Management #Retention and #development explicitly impact Olympic qualification and results. Not all 10,000 hours or 10 years are the same. Quality matters. Most Olympians do not win medals in their 1st games. Consider that neither of the prolific medalists Michael Phelps or Usain Bolt won in their 1st Olympics. #Rowing is an interesting case study as it is a late identification/talent transfer sport, typically not the first sport kids play. In the period from 2012-2024, #Canada won 19 medals in the World Rowing Under 19 and Under 23 Championships in the Olympic Boat classes, backed by substantial funding from Own the Podium, leading to qualification of 2 boats competing in Paris. I have been impressed watching the #Paris Olympics performances and depth from the women's side in Great Britain and Romania; I see considerable optimization in their systems related to retention and development. Here's a great historical document from Dr. Corneliu Florescu from the early 1980's modelling retention and talent development from Romania:

While medal victories might tend to dominate the headlines, there’s much more to the #OlympicGames than winning and losing. The three core values of the #Olympicmovement are #excellence, #respect and #friendship. There’s no podium necessary for an athlete to display one, two or even all three of those traits. Members of Team Canada have been demonstrating those values throughout Paris 2024. Here are a few examples. What are such examples of #Indian #Athletes in #parisgames? https://lnkd.in/gDdDnu43