| Focus March 1, 2003
The Competition Starts Now
I recently read an interview with top-ranked female tennis
players, Venus and Serena Williams. Both girls were destined to become the best in their
sport from the time they were mere toddlers. When they were babies, their father learned
everything he could about tennis and he taught the girls to play himself. Since they were
four years old, tennis has been their life.
When asked about the key to playing tennis, Venus said:
"You can’t play well and not be a good thinker. You win or lose the match before
you even go out there." She goes on to explain that her game is determined long
before she steps into the court. It’s determined by her pre-game mind-set.
The same applies to a fitness competition in many ways.
Yes, your performance on the day of the show plays a huge role in the your overall
placing, but it’s the days, months and years leading up to the competition that are
the ultimate deciding factors in your victory.
Consider this: If during the months leading up to the show,
you tell yourself that you are not going to win, how do you think it will affect your
training? It will be much easier for you to cheat on your diet, miss a workout or two, or
even slack off on your routine practices, because "you’re not going to win
anyway." Right? Well, if you think and train that way, you can be sure you won’t
be a winner!
Fitness is a sport judged by human opinion, so the deciding
vote is never cast in stone. Because the winner is not chosen based on the time on a
stopwatch or points scored, the outcome, as we all know, will vary from person to person
to person. Having said that, your best weapon as a fitness competitor (or in life in
general) is to always train as if you are going to win, regardless of what the term
"win" means to you. If you think, breathe and live the life of a winner, then
inevitably, that’s what you will become.
The one thing that fitness has taught me is that there is
no wrong way to compete. There is no wrong physique, no wrong costume, no wrong music. In
fact, everything is right, as long as it is a reflection of the best you have to offer.
Let’s face it - the competitive season is fast
approaching. So, whether you are getting ready for your first novice competition or your
tenth national show, the best thing you can bring to the stage is a confident attitude.
Regardless of your physique or routine, confidence is one thing that will make you stand
out.
I’ve heard a lot of feedback from judges after a show,
both about myself and other competitors, but the one thing I have never heard a judge say
is "You didn’t win because you were just too confident. Tone that confidence
down a little for your next show and that should bring up your placing." The fact
that I’ve never heard this, or never expect to hear this comment from a judge should
speak for itself, but in case it doesn’t, just take Serena and Venus’ word for
it. After all, they know a thing or two about what it takes to win.
...Denyse Johnson
denyse@seriousaboutfitness.com |
