Starting Five

What distinguishes elite athletes from the rest?

Discipline

I’ve dedicated nine years of my life to this sport. That’s over
1,300,000 meters sprinted
600,000 pounds lifted
80,000 a-skips, block starts, leg swings
2,500 hours of YouTube
230 races (and counting)

Success is reserved for those who become commanders of craft, rulers of repetition, lords of learning.

Belief

We all have those whispers in our heart that convince us of potential unseen and have the ability to transport us to new heights.

But they’re weak — neither strengthened with dumbbells nor intervals. They’re trained by reps and sets of visualization guided by realism. Fortified by laps of affirmative self-talk. Toughened by building tolerance to lactic fear and doubt. What have you done to transform those whispers into shouts?

Passion

It started with a crush at the school playground…

dominating foot races and chase games like tag. I began to fall in love when I joined the team in high school, popping the question at the end of the year. The honeymoon came in college with championship wins and record-setting runs, but disillusionment soon followed as I drowned in my own greed and obsession. Sustaining damage to my body (overtraining) and soul (unrealistic expectations unmet), I needed time away to heal. We’re back together again and I’m finally learning what a healthy relationship with this passion of mine looks like.

Persistence

We’re no strangers to suffering. We’ve all been destroyed by disappointment. But, as a roller coaster takes a plunge in order to garner enough speed to reach the crest, so too can our setbacks propel us to great glories; and for that, I rejoice in my sufferings.

Stewardship

Every human is given a gift. Whether analytical, artistic or athletic; it’s the individual’s duty to develop that gift to its full potential. No room for idleness. No shortcuts.

Good stewardship requires investment, sacrifice and self-control.

The hope is that at the end of one’s career, they can look back at all they accomplished with great confidence and say, “I did good.”

Paul Dedewo is a World Championships medalist and professional sprinter training in Phoenix at ALTIS. You can follow him on Instagram and Twitter.

This is the first of a series of essays called Anatomy of the Athlete. Read later works in the series — Be An Anomaly and The Upside Down Athlete.

All photos by Dr. Peter C. Simmons of 5or6.