How women in the Olympics are teaching valuable lessons for businesses
Whether your business is booming or you’re navigating a rough patch, there’s much to be learned from the women in this year’s Olympic Games. From putting your health first to showing respect for the competition, the true sportsmanship of these women are the perfect inspiration for how to keep your business model strong.
Don’t push beyond your limits
If dismounting from a balance beam with a full-twisting double-back wasn’t impressive enough, having the courage to say no for your health when not suitably primed for competition certainly is. We can all learn something from US gymnast Simone Biles when it comes to putting your mental and physical safety ahead of any ‘professional’ wins.
On July 27, Biles left the women’s gymnastics final, from fear of hurting herself should she have continued in her current, non-ideal state of mind. She walked off the mat and left the competition after she twisted fewer times than planned in the vault, feeling that her loss of sense of self in the air was a warning sign.
Along with a video she had shared of her attempting and failing a double-twisting double somersault dismount into a foam pit on uneven bars in training, she wrote:
“For anyone saying I quit, I didn’t quit, my mind and body are simply not in sync as you can see here,” she wrote.
“I don’t think you realise how dangerous this is on a hard/competition surface. Nor do I have to explain why I put health first. Physical health is mental health.”
Maintain integrity
Naomi Osaka is another icon worth learning lessons of resilience from. Despite receiving negative, sometimes cruel sentiments on social media, she stayed strong in the face of adversity, and came back with an act of self-love and appreciation.
The Japanese-born daughter of a Haitian-American father and Japanese mother, Osaka was the torchbearer of this year’s Olympics, in a stand for equality and inclusion. But on Monday July 26th, after she suffered a third-round loss to Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic and was eliminated from the Tennis games, she faced backlash from critics online. Nonetheless, on Friday Osaka posted on her Twitter an image of her and Simone Biles as Powerpuff girls, in an expression of pride for standing by the importance of mental health.
Back in June, Osaka withdrew from the French Open due to mental health issues, and chose not to attend press conferences or speak with the media, receiving widespread backlash especially in Japan.
Following on from this, Cartoon Network created an image depicting Osaka and Biles as Powerpuff girls in their house-style, showing its support for the Olympians’ strength.
Respect your competition
While it might sometimes feel difficult to admire the hard work of competition, humility can boost team spirit.
The dynamic between 3x U.S Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky and Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus (who is competing in her first Olympics this year) was earlier portrayed as cold. But the humility and respect that the two have shown for each other over the past week has revealed some truer colours, which we can all learn from.
While Titmus has won Gold for both 200m and 400m, the longer distance remains in Ledecky’s field. But following the 800m, the two showed their respect for one another.
“To look at Katie and see what she has achieved at three Olympics, I would dream of that. I’m going to take a break and reflect on what I’ve done here. I want to have longevity in my swimming career, so I want to soak it in while I can,” Titmus said.
Meanwhile, Leducky showed the same admiration for her competition.
“I understand the work that it takes to get to this point and swim the times that we’re swimming. There’s a respect for the work. For the athlete, the coaches, the families,” Ledecky said.
“To have somebody right there, you have that mutual respect. We’re very friendly. There’s nothing between us, we’re just going to keep moving forward and follow our own paths and work towards our own goals.
“If we happen to get side by side, we’re going to have great races and be fierce competitors. But I hope we always have a great respect for each other. It’s been an honour and a privilege to race her.”
Final Note: Don’t lose heart
Majlinda Kelmendi was Kosovo’s first ever Olympic gold-medallist, a judo champion at Rio 2016. Aged 30 now, she began training in 1999, during the war between Kosovo separatists and the Serbian nationalist regime. She shows us that anyone who sets their mind to it can be a winner, and that the tough streaks end.
While Kelmendi has failed to win gold at this year’s Olympics on July 25, her coach, Driton Kuka, showed us that it doesn’t take a gold medal to be a winner.
Kuka said just minutes after the loss, “Don't be sad today. All the work and sacrifice, sweat and blood that you have paid for yourself, for me, our families, for all our people, have rewarded you during your career.”
“Keep your head up because you have given us so much joy! I will remain proud of you until my last breath."
Written for Empowering a Billion Women, 26 August 2021
