Unwaveringly Optimistic

Resilient athletes have an extraordinary ability to stay optimistic. They face challenges head-on with hope for a great outcome. One thing is for sure in sport: if you want to be great, there will be obstacles in front of you, and you have to remain optimistic through them.

Marathon Runners: A Test of Resilience

Marathon runners are one of the best examples of resilience in competition. Most top-level marathon runners race for just over two hours straight. Over that time, there are countless chances for doubt to creep in, for pain or injury to interfere, or for the mind to wander. That’s why their ability to endure is so special.

Eliud Kipchoge, one of the most decorated marathoners in history, epitomizes this optimism. He has competed in four Olympic Games across a 20-year career, winning two gold medals, breaking the world record twice, and becoming the only human to run under two hours for the marathon—a feat once thought impossible.

After winning gold at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016, Kipchoge had his sights set on Tokyo. But when the COVID-19 pandemic postponed the Olympics, many athletes struggled to maintain their rhythm and motivation. Kipchoge, however, stayed resilient and optimistic, trained through the disruption, and returned to defend his title by winning another gold medal.

In a 2015 interview, Kipchoge said:

“Training at an elite level for athletics demands lots of energy. Sometimes, no matter how hard you have trained, you may suffer defeat or setbacks. This should not be discouragement, as tomorrow is another day. If you lead an optimistic life, you will overcome any setback and enjoy the world of sport.”

This perspective highlights how optimism is not passive, it’s a choice, a mental skill that fuels perseverance and resilience when things don’t go as planned.

The Mental Skill: Staying Optimistic Through Setbacks

The optimism Kipchoge demonstrated between the Rio and Tokyo Olympics shows the essence of resilience. Great athletes know that obstacles are part of the journey. They don’t play the victim or fall into the trap of saying, “Woe is me, I’ll never achieve my goal.” Instead, they choose to stay optimistic, remain hopeful, and bounce back stronger.

This is Mental Strength.

For Players

Do:

• Choose optimism after setbacks, remind yourself tomorrow is another chance.

• Use challenges as fuel to strengthen your focus and motivation.

Don’t:

• Let temporary obstacles convince you that you’re permanently defeated.

• Fall into self-pity or use setbacks as excuses to lower your effort.

For Parents

Do:

• Encourage your athlete to stay hopeful and see setbacks as temporary.

• Model optimism at home by showing how you handle challenges.

Don’t:

• Define your athlete by their failures, remind them setbacks are moments, not identities.

• Reinforce negative thinking by dwelling on what went wrong.

For Coaches

Do:

• Teach athletes to reframe obstacles as opportunities for growth.

• Share stories of athletes like Kipchoge who persisted with optimism.

Don’t:

• Allow negativity or pessimism to dominate team culture.

• Overlook the mental toll of setbacks help athletes re-center with optimism.