Mark Hunter MBE (Olympic Rower): A story of true resilience

Athens 2004 - last place

Beijing 2008 - gold medal

London 2012 - silver medal

You work day and night for four years. Preparing yourself for a single moment. The world is watching you. The media is waiting for you to crack so they have a story to sell. Then the pessimists’ prediction becomes the bitter truth. You fail. In a moment the world collapses around you: No prize, no job, and no confidence. 

People laugh at you on the street - ridicule you. You start to question everything about yourself and your ability. But somehow you find a tiny spark that is gently fuelled by your closest friends. People who believe in you. A tiny part of you thinks that just perhaps ‘you can do this’. You start planning the next four year journey of your life, with the uncertainty of not knowing whether this time will be ‘your’ moment.

This is the story of Mark Hunter MBE (Olympic Gold Medalist).

A hugely inspirational story. I’m honoured and grateful my squad at Polymensa had the opportunity this week to be inspired by him. His story triggers a feeling that sits deep in us all: The fear of failure. But it also triggers the feeling of overwhelming joy, when you’ve come from rock bottom, beating all odds to succeed - a story of resilience.

The biggest take outs:

• Control the controllables
• Pick strategically when you give 100% and when 90% is enough
• Attainable targets to build confidence
• Accountability is key
• Plan, plan, plan
• Keep a journal to reflect
• Make time to reflect (debrief after every big event)
• When you’re at the top, everyone wants to drag you down
• Be in harmony with your team, acknowledge the different dynamics
• How you decide to feel is up to you, just remember it will impact everything around you

Hope the video and Mark’s story inspires you today. In a moment when you probably had your own moments of struggle with everything that is going on in the world.

You can do this!

Be An Infinite Learner