Sportsmen united by the Olympic dream
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Carlos Sastre / May '08
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Due to our hectic competition and training schedules, the moments in which we meet sportspeople from other specialities are usually few and far between. Nevertheless, throughout the year there are always moments when you can spend some time and compare notes with a lot of sportspeople who, like you, make sacrifices and train every day to achieve their goals.
Recently, during one of the many gala dinners that take place in the world of sports, I had the opportunity to chat to other sportspeople. I realised that we all have several things in common: Some of the people present had suffered injuries and they only had one thing on their minds - recuperating to reach the Olympics in the best possible conditions. Even though they know that time is limited, they hope to train every day and progress, even if this is not the easy route to take. There are also some who hope to achieve something, to secure a place for themselves on the national team in order to participate in the Beijing Games and show their fighting spirit. Others, with the peace of mind of having secured a place, train and recuperate, planning each step to arrive in the best possible conditions…
Whilst we talked of these concerns, we were watching canapés and snacks pass us by that never actually reached our tables. That is another thing that unites us: a voracious appetite. We are true eating machines. Many of the sportspeople who I talked to practice sports that, in theory, have nothing to do with what I do. But, after listening for a short while and analysing what they said, I realised just how similar sports and sportspeople can really be.
From a young age, I have always practiced all kinds of sports and hence my interest in learning more about everything that I haven’t mastered. Although it’s true that in recent years, I have had less and less time to do different activities other than cycling, it is no less true that in the winter team survival training camps, we have done a bit of everything: from sailing, to skiing and abseiling. And then there is my own winter training, in which I work with different sports that help to keep me in shape and at the same time, relax me psychologically.
I am always involved in sport in one way or another, and sometimes it’s comforting to be able to speak to other sportspeople and share these experiences that help us all to better ourselves and to take life on from another viewpoint.
I find it both pleasing and enriching to know that there are many who dream, as I do, of enjoying what they do and who fight to achieve their goals. Additionally, in this special year, one hope unites us all: to be able to form part of the national team and represent our country in something so unique for sportspeople, as are the Olympic Games.
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