3 Powerful lessons from an inspirational Olympian

Today is the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympics. Personally I can't wait, until the games get under way tomorrow ??.

However today, I want to share with you the amazing story of one of the Athletes that really inspired me this week. A story, that shows us, that with the right passion, motivation and determination anything it is possible. And there were 3 powerful lessons I wanted to highlight from this individual's incredible journey, that we can use to our advantage in our business and personal lives ????.

This is also a tale of overcoming the most severe adversity. The sort of adversity, that would result in most individuals giving up on their dreams ??.

The reality is so often, things in our business and personal lives, do not play out as we hope or expect. For many, these external factors can define our success and our happiness. However a select few, decide that these circumstances will NOT define what we do ??.

Let me introduce, the story and journey of the GB gymnast Giarnni Regini-Moran. Giving up would have been so easy and the obvious choice. The odds, were massively stacked against him.

However, Giarnni took ownership and DECIDED that things were going to work out differently. Today I want to share this story and the 3 key lessons which I believe are applicable to us all.

Where his story begins - As a junior gymnast, Giarnni Regini-Moran was very successful winning lots of medals, including the all around gold medal, in the Youth Olympic Games in 2014. And be received the call to say he was in with a good chance of going to the Olympic games in 2016 when he was just 17 years old!!

The day everything changed - In July 2016, he suffered a serious leg injury, damaging multiple knee ligaments and his hamstring and fracturing his tibia, which just weeks away, shattered his dream of competing at the 2016 Olympics ??. He went from having the gymnastics world at his fingertips to laying in a bed, thinking his gymnastics career was over.

Lesson #1 = Mindset is Key

At the point when most people would throw in the towel, he DECIDED that this experience would only make him stronger. Giarnni became incredibly resilient and started his come-back.

Giarrni said, “I knew I could get back to a level of walking and running, but questioned whether I would be a world class gymnast again. People would write me off. But I showed up every day no matter what.” A lesson for us all, is not the let those self doubts (that we all have) win the day ??

Lesson #2 = Never Give Up

There were times he wanted to quit, but he said, “The mindset of a true champion is to keep going and not to quit”.

This mindset of never giving up is what kept him going through the hardest of times.

After hours of reconstructive surgery and around a year recovery where he "had to learn to walk again", with sheer determination, he amazingly returned to competitive gymnastics.

Lesson #3 = Failing makes you who you are

After European, World and Commonwealth successes, he helped the GB gymnastics team get 4th place in Tokyo 2022, and this year he is on his way to Paris to compete for an Olympic medal. ??

Giarnni hopes to inspire the next generation. He said, “I hope to leave an incredible legacy to younger athletes that with the right mindset and never giving up you can achieve your dreams. Learning, winning, failing makes you who you are today.”

What we can learn from this young athlete is that determination and a 'never give up' mindset can get you through the hardest of times. Following his injury he could've given up, he could've quit... but he didn't, even though so many people around him thought he should.

If you really want something in your business or your life - don't ever give up. Be resilient, keep going, take each obstacle or challenge on one at a time and always keep the end goal in mind.

If you think you can't you won't, if you think you can you're halfway there.

Ps: I hope you are looking forward to the Olympic Games as much as I am!

Tony