Motivational Quotes from Famous Gymnasts

Comments

July 10, 2009 at 6:36 am

(1) Robin says:

Thanks, Amy, for posting the quotes from the gymnasts. I think I liked the quote from Dominique Moceanu the most. She talks about how there will always be resistance and obstacles that attempt to block your path in life. But you need face those issues head on with a determined, yet relaxed, sense of focus.

Also, when I am working with my therapy clients who are gymnasts, I often suggest that they remember the “AUTO” approach whenever they are faced with an obstacle. AUTO is an acronym for Around, Under, Through, Over. And, those are the directions in which they need to move in order to overcome their obstacles.

Hey, Amy, I loved your article in the July/August, 2009 issue of International Gymnast Magazine! I really liked Charles Tamayo’s quote that read…”When I coach my kids here, I want them to be a better person more than anything else.”

I think that is such an awesome attitude for a coach! It sounds like he truly means to ‘inspire’ his students to improve for themselves! Whereas, many coaches merely ‘require’ ever-more results from theirs.

You certainly do possess an engaging writing style, Amy. Nice work! )

July 10, 2009 at 5:36 pm

(2) Robin says:

Hmmm…can anybody please explain to me the mysterious logic behind Shawn Johnson’s quote?
In essence, isn’t she basically contradicting herself within her own statement? By this, I mean…she starts out by stating that she doesn’t think she has ever gotten nervous. And then, contradicts that by quoting a phrase that they always say in their gym…”If you lose the nerves, you lose the sport.”
Now, if you follow that logic at face value, isn’t she essentially saying that since she has never gotten nervous, she could not possibly have won at any sports???

I certainly do not consider myself to be the world’s foremost authority on sports psychology. Nevertheless, is possessing nervousness an absolute requirement for winning in sports? I would think that having a calm and relaxed feeling of self confidence and an overall sense balance in life (not nervousness) would be far more in order for performing at your very best. Therefore, a much more appropriate version of the quote might be: “If you lose YOUR NERVE, you lose the sport.”
In other words, if you allow yourself to be crippled by nervous anxiety and fear, you lose…even before you get to compete.

{{NOTE: Please understand that I am NOT ‘ripping’ on Shawn Johnson in any way. I happen to have tremendous respect for her. I am merely attempting to glean understanding of the underlying meaning of her quote.}}

July 13, 2009 at 12:48 am

(3) gymnastt says:

SJ’s quote says she has never NOT gotten nervous. Meaning, she always gets nervous.

July 13, 2009 at 9:01 pm

(4) Robin says:

Ah, yes, gymnastt, you are correct. I’ve apparently misread Shawn Johnson’s quote.
Now it makes more sense.
I appreciate your pointing that out to me.

Of course, Shawn Johnson’s (or anybody’s) nervousness can now easily be eliminated before and during competitions with the new therapy techniques I’ve been using in my private coaching practice for the past six years.

These protocols also work wonders for clearing away anxiety, stress, over-excitement, worries or self doubts, fear of injury or re-injury, etc.
Plus, they help any athletes to be able to sleep calmly and confidently the night before a competition or game. Seriously.

I’ve already used these training techniques with lots of athletes (including just over 80 gymnasts) and non-athletes with excellent results! Those athletes now use my techniques religiously to gain an unfair advantage over their competition.

But I digress.

Thanks again, gymnastt, for correcting my reading error (and for not chastising me for it).