Staying Power!

I went to the European Athletics championships in Gateshead at the weekend. There was a large crowd, a great atmosphere and some top performances. However, there was one particular moment that had huge impact for me, and it wasn’t about winning.

We were watching the women’s steeplechase event and one of the competitors very quickly started lagging behind the others. A small girl sitting in front of me was quick to notice and to laugh and scoff at this. With each circuit of the track the gap grew ever larger between the athlete and the rest of the competitors. The effort for her to keep going was evident for all of us to see, but keep going was just what she did.

The cheer for the winner at the end of the race was resounding and enthusiastic, but it was the athlete at the back, so very far behind, who brought the crowd to their feet. The clapping and cheering that supported her on the final lap gave her the lift she needed to clear the last hurdle and run to the finish. It was heart warming…. a real ‘feel good’ moment.

‘Why is everyone clapping HER?’ asked the little girl sitting in front of me. Her Dad replied,  ‘Because she’s got staying power. She didn’t give up.’

It was a powerful lesson for that little girl…. and for me too :-)