• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Click here to download the  free ebook of Alberto Juantorena’s  detailed training workouts leading up to the 1976 Montreal Olympics

SpeedEndurance.com

Success in Track & Field ... and Life

  • Home
    • About
    • Contact
  • Track & Field
    • 400 meters
    • 800m & Mile
    • 1/2 & Full Marathons
    • Long & Triple Jump
    • Hurdles
  • Training
    • Weight Training
    • Abs & Core
    • Injury Prevention
    • Shoes & Spikes
    • Masters
  • Coaching
    • Freelap Friday Five
    • Interviews
    • Sports Nutrition
    • Sport Psychology
  • Archives
  • Shop
    • My account
    • Checkout
    • Basket

Attitude

You are here: Home / Track & Field / Olympic History / Attitude
1
SHARES
FacebookTwitter

March 26, 2007 by Jimson Lee 10 Comments

Last Updated on April 7, 2013

The best example of attitude that I have ever witnessed was American Decathlete Dan O’Brien.

As the 1991 World Champion in his event and the alarming favorite to win the 1992 US Olympic Trials (and the Olympics for that matter), Dan no-heighted in the pole vault at the Trials and as a result missed making the Olympic team. Yes, we all remember that silly marketing hype of the infamous “Dan vs. Dave” commercials that totally bombed when Dan failed to make the team. Dave is Dave Johnson who would eventually win a bronze medal at the games. To me, the best decathlete in the world stayed home and watched the Olympics on TV like I did!

Our track team was lucky to meet him in 1993 when we were competing at the CIS Championships Track & Field at the converted Skydome in Toronto, Canada. Normally, they are held on a weekend, but we were competing on a Tuesday & Wednesday, with the IAAF World Indoor Championships that weekend. Of course, some of us stayed the extra few days to watch the meet, even with final exams looming.

We bumped into Dan that weekend at the hotel lobby, and he was cheerful, kind, and even let us take photos with him, unlike some world class athletes who were totally smug or wearing sunglasses indoors so they wouldn’t be recognized.

In an article from USA Today, June 21, 1996, he said he learned from his experience, “My failure at the 1992 trials set the path for where I am today. If it hadn’t happened, and I’d gone on to win the gold medal, I probably wouldn’t even be competing anymore, and I might not be a good loser. The failure showed me how committed I really am.”

READ  The Chris Lukezic Workout

Dan O’Brien went on to win the gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics later that summer.

To me, that is a sign of a true champion and a lot of class. Because it’s all about attitude. Imagine keeping that drive and desire for 4 more years!

This was posted on the refridgerator at my previous company. I always refer to this when I get pissed off…

Attitude
by Charles Swindoll

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.

Attitude, to me, is more important than facts.

It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do.

It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill.

It will make or break a company … a church … a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.

We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude …

I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it.

And so it is with you … we are in charge of our Attitudes.”

UPDATE: Here is a quote from John Smith from https://speedendurance.com/category/hsi-videos/

“A true champion, when they lose, they don’t get defeated. They get inspired by their loss. It makes them come back to practce. They can’t wait to get to the track. They blame no one.”

  • Bio
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Latest Posts
Jimson Lee

Jimson Lee

Coach & Founder at SpeedEndurance.com
I am a Masters Athlete and Coach currently based in London UK. My other projects include the Bud Winter Foundation, writer for the IAAF New Studies in Athletics Journal (NSA) and a member of the Track & Field Writers of America.
READ  Clyde Hart Training Manual and Speed Drills
Jimson Lee

@speedendurance

Jimson Lee
Jimson Lee
Jimson Lee

Jimson Lee

Jimson Lee

Latest posts by Jimson Lee (see all)

  • Jana Pittman – 400mH World Champion, Bobsleigh, and now Doctor - December 8, 2020
  • Autogenic/Parasympathetic Breathing Techniques for Recovery & Regeneration – Episode 3 - May 22, 2020
  • PART 2: Viewing the Bio-Motor Abilities of 400m Hurdlers Relative to 800m Runners - May 13, 2020
Jimson Lee

Category iconOlympic History,  Sport Psychology,  Success Tag iconDan Obrien,  John Smith,  Olympics,  speed,  Videos

About Jimson Lee

I am a Masters Athlete and Coach currently based in London UK. My other projects include the Bud Winter Foundation, writer for the IAAF New Studies in Athletics Journal (NSA) and a member of the Track & Field Writers of America.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. anonymous says

    May 29, 2007 at 12:19 pm

    How about Bershawn Jackson? 400 meter Hurdles? He missed Athens by placing 4th at the US Trials, by 0.06 seconds!

    Reply
  2. Patricia - Spiritual Journey Of A Lightworker says

    July 29, 2007 at 4:09 pm

    Jimson, I printed out a copy of this article to keep on hand to remind me of how important “attitude” really is. Thanks. I am visiting from Personal Stories Of Change Blog Carnival: Edition 2.

    Reply
  3. Jimson Lee says

    July 29, 2007 at 9:12 pm

    @Patricia – I’m glad you enjoyed it. Sports are great for producing Heroes and Heartbreaks. But at the end, it’s just sports. What you learn from it is far more valuable.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Follow Us

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Shop Our Store

  • Bud Winter (9)
  • Championship Productions (6)
  • Clyde Hart (2)
  • Derek Hansen (1)
  • Electrical Muscle Stimulation (2)
  • Jim Hiserman (5)
  • Jimson Lee (3)
  • Uncategorised (0)

Articles by Category

Products

  • SpeedEndurance Products Jim Hiserman - Developing Distance Runners Volume 2: A Systematic Approach to Developing Individual Success within a Dynamic Team Culture $34.95 $29.95
  • Feed-the-Cats-Clinic-3-Pack-701 'Feed the Cats' Clinic 3-Pack $64.99
  • Tony Holler's Feed the Cats": A Complete Sprint Training Program Tony Holler's "Feed the Cats" Complete Sprint Training Program $49.99
  • Bud Winter and Speed City presents Arthur Lydiard 509x716 Bud Winter & Arthur Lydiard MP3 [Download only] $9.99
  • Globus SprintCoach LE Electrical Muscle Stimulation Globus Electrical Muscle Stimulation SprintCoach SPORT $849.00
  • Globus SprintCoach LE Electrical Muscle Stimulation Globus Electrical Muscle Stimulation SprintCoach SPORT Limited Edition (LE) $949.00

RECENT POSTS

  • Jana Pittman – 400mH World Champion, Bobsleigh, and now Doctor
  • Autogenic/Parasympathetic Breathing Techniques for Recovery & Regeneration – Episode 3
  • PART 2: Viewing the Bio-Motor Abilities of 400m Hurdlers Relative to 800m Runners
  • Remembering Mike Agostini (1935 – 2016)
  • Remembering CharlieFrancis Forum (10 Years later)
  • Microstretching vs PNF vs ELDOA: Live Zoom Chat (Episode 2)
  • Viewing the Bio-Motor Abilities of 400m Hurdlers Relative to 800m Runners (Part 1)
  • A Systematic Approach To Developing Individual Success Within A Dynamic Team Culture
  • How to do Repeat 100m Strides with No Marks or Measurements
  • Testing for Speed, Power, Strength, & Endurance [VIDEO]

Copyright © 2021. SpeedEndurance.com is owned and operated by Aryta Ltd. Privacy Policy