Ten steps to success as a top performer.
The recent Olympic games in Australia were dramatic and intense. Americans everywhere were inspired by the performance of the nation's top athletes. If you have ever dreamed of becoming an Olympic athlete yourself, no matter how old or out of shape you are right now, it's not out of the question. Here are 10 steps you can take towards realizing that dream, all based on the Fabjob.com Guide to Become an Olympic Athlete.
You may be ready to start training full-time, which means you will have to find a way to support yourself financially.
1. Assess Your Physical Condition
The first step, obviously, is to determine your level of fitness. This process will help find the best sport for you, as well as the training program that you need to follow. If you are 35 years old--and your favorite activity is sitting on the couch with a six-pack and a bag of chips--you probably aren't cut out to become an Olympic gymnast. However, if you are willing to make a few lifestyle changes, there are a number of sports you could successfully compete in. An objective assessment of your current fitness level is usually available at a local gym, in consultation with one of the trainers.
2. Choose a Sport
Many athletes select a sport based on what they enjoy doing and what they are good at. If you already have an athletic hobby, such as target shooting or judo, you may be one step ahead. If you are starting from scratch, you can find a list of Olympic sports by visiting the United States Olympic Committee Web site at www.usolympicteam.com. If you are an older athlete, you may find success in a sport that focuses more on mental strength than physical prowess. Archery, canoe/kayak, equestrian, fencing, sailing, shooting, and table tennis are all considered "thinking" sports.
3. Find a Place to Train
Once you decide which sport to pursue, you need to start developing your skills. Join a club in your local area so you can practice and take classes. Look in the Yellow Pages under "Athletic Clubs." Another good place to train, depending on your sport, is a local high school or university.
4. Join the National Governing Body
A crucial step that will get you to the next level is to join the National Governing Body (NGB) for your sport. The NGB conducts National Championships, maintains a National Team, and often supports various developmental programs for athletes. You can find the Web site for your NGB via the national Olympic Committee site.
5. Start Competing
If you haven't already started competing at the club stage, now is the time to do it. Your NGB hosts a variety of tournaments on the local level. It is important in many sports to build a national rating by competing at certain competitions. Your NGB can tell you where and when to do so.
6. Find a Coach
This step should be taken as soon as you start competing. A coach can help develop your skills and speed your progress to the next level of your sport. A good place to start looking for a coach is at your local training facility. The people who teach classes at training facilities will often recommend someone--or they may be able to coach you themselves.
7. Visualize Your Success
A vital training technique used by top athletes is visualization. According to this theory, if you see a perfect golf swing 1,000 times in your mind, it's better practice than actually swinging the golf club 10,000 times. If you're a diver, you can play out the entire sequence of a perfect dive in your mind: climbing up the ladder, taking each step toward the end of the platform, launching yourself into the air, flipping and twisting perfectly, and entering the water without a splash. Then, picture yourself emerging from the water, waving to the crowd, toweling off, squinting as a thousand flashbulbs pop. The more detail you can add to a visualization--including sounds, smells, and physical sensations--the better your preparation will be. Many experts believe that your results will improve dramatically, too.
8. Find Financing
You may be eventually be ready to start training full-time, which means you will have to find a way to support yourself financially. Elite athletes traditionally enjoy several perks. They attend college on an athletic scholarship, become a resident athlete at an Olympic Training Center, or obtain corporate sponsorships. Your NGB can give you information about becoming a resident athlete. You may be able to obtain corporate sponsorships through your employer, by contacting the marketing department of other companies, or by having a sports marketing agency contact companies for you.
9. Attend the National Championships
Most NGBs organize their National Championships to match the Olympic format, so it will be good practice for you. The National Team coach is often present at these Championships and can tell you how to make the Olympic Team in your sport. Many individual sports open their National Championships to any competitor who has achieved some minimum qualification at the local or regional level--so you may have a better chance of competing than you think.
10. Qualify for the Olympics
Each sport has a different process for qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Team. Athletes in team sports (such as basketball or soccer) tend to be chosen by the national coaching squad because of their national reputation, national ranking, or results at previous competitions. Some team sports also offer an Olympic tryout. Athletes in individual sports (such as track and field or tennis) compete for a spot on the Olympic Team through qualifying tournaments and national rankings. Once you make it to the Olympics, you have already achieved the dream of a lifetime--enjoy the experience and go for the gold!
Tag Goulet is the author of The Fabjob.com Guide to Become an Olympic Athlete. The complete guide includes detailed information about how to become an Olympic athlete in every summer sport. It is available online through www.fabjob.com.
