Ignite by Andre De Grasse

Author:Andre De Grasse
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Canada
Published: 2023-08-22T00:00:00+00:00

18

Chemistry

Sprinting is an isolating sport. On the surface, success or failure comes down to individual performance. You carry the glory of the victories, but you also carry the disappointment of defeat. Either way, it rests on your shoulders. Behind the scenes there are people—coaches, sports therapists, doctors, trainers, agents—who played an enormous role in those victories and share some responsibility in the defeats. But ultimately, it falls on the person who stands alone on the track.

That isolation doesn’t bother me. I enjoy rising to the pressure it creates. But at the same time, I’ve always loved being part of a team. When I played competitive basketball and soccer, I was usually the team captain and I loved taking on the responsibility of that leadership role. I’m still a big basketball fan, and part of me envies the way elite basketball players must allow their talent to meld and flow with the talent of their teammates. A good basketball team holds a collective rhythm. The players are in sync in a way that allows them to function as a single unit, fundamental parts of a fine-tuned machine. That kind of connection develops a unique camaraderie among teammates. I love that.

I think my love for team sports is why I’m so drawn to the relay events in track. People are often surprised to learn I love running relays. But I think of it as a return to my roots in team sports. Through the relay specifically, I’ve learned a lot about the challenges and benefits of being part of a team in my career.

Being part of a team makes you better at the individual components of performance. You need to adapt and react to what your teammates are doing. You don’t know what to expect. I love that dynamic. I love that camaraderie.

As a member of the national team, I’ve landed on the podium twice at the Olympics in the 4 x 100-metre relay. Through those experiences, I’ve learned that functioning within a team is a key part of finding success. We all have teammates—people working towards the same goals, with the same interests in mind. Knowing how to perform effectively with those teammates is key to achieving both your individual and collective goals.

As with most team sports, a lot more goes into a performance than what a spectator might see from the sidelines or watch from home.

I think the relay is the toughest event I compete in because it’s unpredictable. You can’t control anything happening around you. The position you and your teammates find themselves in depends on the performance of everyone else. When I run the final leg, I watch as the first leg passes to the second leg, and the second passes to the third leg, getting closer and closer to me. I rely on my teammates to get me the baton. They rely on me to take it and either come from behind or keep a lead. Either way, all the work they have put into the race transfers to me.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.