Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi
Coaches often try to foster team spirit
among athletes and it is for a reason. When athletes gel
they player better as a team and overall unit. Some athletes
play better than others due to various factors (some work
harder, genetic factors such as height and hand/eye and
hand/foot coordination, speed ect). On many occasions, when
a team acquires the skills of a very gifted athlete, it has
elevated the level of play among others on the squad,
producing better overall results.
Arsenal's "Invincibles" squad
A recent example of this is F.C. Barcelona.
They’d been doing well for a while, but this season the team
led by Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, really gelled
and are playing as a unit (an annoying, irritating,
upsetting goal scoring unit that just beat my team Arsenal
LOL). It somewhat reminds me of Arsenal's Invincibles, who
went unbeaten in the 2003-2004 Premier League season. The
team was led by legendary footballer, Thierry Henry, who
scored goal after goal. Henry is another example of the
level of play being elevated when key athletes gel. It
inspires and lifts the team.
Usain Bolt
Some athletes inspire others to do better by
raising the level of competition in other ways. For the past
few years, sprinters have been flying out to Jamaica with
requests to train with and run against Usain Bolt, stating
it helps them run faster. Bolt also elevated the level of
speed among teammates such as Yohan Blake and Warren Weir.
Boxing legends Muhammad Ali and Lennox Lewis
People are also inspired by champions of the
past. Boxers often find inspiration in going to historic
gyms to train, soaking up the atmosphere of greatness that
emanated from its walls, producing champions who are now
embedded in world history. Sparring against the best in the
gym is also a learning experience in itself. Whatever sport
you play, resolve within yourself that you are going to
fight and win.
