Olympians - Four Lessons from my Former Swimming Coach.

The 1960 Rome Olympics had four defining features.

1. It was the first Summer Olympics in history to be telecast in North America.
2. It was the first time that the Paralympic Games were held in conjunction with the Summer Olympics.
3. Wilma Rudolph, former polio patient and ‘fastest women in the world’, won three Olympic gold medals.
4. The arrival of Cassius Clay, later known as Muhammed Ali, on the world stage of stardom and won Olympic Gold – he returned to the centennial Games of the XXVI Olympiad to light the Olympic Fire.

If you are wondering how the Olympic Games relates to leadership, as with all my blogs, I would ask you to be patient as the story unfolds.

The purpose of this blog is not to write about Cassius Clay but about Hannelore, my former swim coach, who turned 80 years old last week. Hannelore, a former figure skater, decided the rules and judging process of professional ice-skating were seriously flawed – choosing to embark on a swimming career instead. Butterfly swimming, to be precise. She finally found her passion and the combination of her discipline, focus and fighter spirit resulted in her qualification for the Rome Olympics, where she met and befriended a certain, and at the time unknown, box-champion.

As you have probably guessed, the friend we are talking about is Cassius Clay-one of greatest boxers of all time - but this blog is not about him!

It is about acknowledging a woman that was and is extraordinary in everything she commits herself to. In many ways, Hannelore was our second mother.

Last Friday, we celebrated at her home near Vienna with her core swim team. A team she supported, moulded and turned into successful athletes and, perhaps more importantly, people with integrity. Most of us had not seen each other in a long time, but many years spent in the pool together creates bonds for life. The night was about storytelling, reconnecting and distilling the essence of Hannelore and how she influenced us throughout our lives.

For me and for most of us that attended, some of Hannelore’s soundbites with deep meaning resonated so much with us all. – I also consider them to be the foundation for becoming good leaders and even better role models.

1.????Quality over quantity.

Hannelore never had us swim the most miles in the pool, but she did always make us give our all - the intensity of training was probably unrivalled in the Austrian swimming world at the time! Interval training with even shorter breaks and the slogan ‘the last is the fastest’, still haunts my dreams. And yet, how true is this for business and life! Whatever you do, give it your all and never become complacent or slow down towards the end.

2.????Relentless role-modelling. ??

I swam for many years, Monday to Friday, often twice a day. Indoors in winter and outdoors May to early October. Hannelore always showed up with a whistle in her mouth, dressed for the occasion. Hat when hot, raincoat when raining and steadying herself on the pole when the wind gusts created waves in the pool. Her belief was?that every leader needs to lead by example – and what an example she was!

3.????Team is everything.

Everything she did was based around building a strong team. Of course, some swimmers were more talented than others and she knew that not everyone could win! However, she gave everyone confidence and the belief that we could become better. Our relay team was legendary. I was a back stroker, but in the relay I always had to do the butterfly, which I hated - but it was for the team! I respected that and it taught me so much for life itself.

4.????And now, win!

We would all be lying if we said we only swam for fun. The reality is that all but a few dreamt about competing in the Olympics - how could you not when your coach was an Olympian! Indeed, some of us came close to an Olympic qualification, but most did not. Some of us are still swimming with the dream to win the masters world tournaments. The sound is still resonating with us before a race starts – her quiet but assuring voice says ‘and now… win’ – and many times we did! But winning was not meant as taking first place as she also meant winning your personal best. And when we succeeded, it taught us how to be accepting and graceful of defeat, determined to do better next time. I wish more people in the professional world would exhibit this attitude!

Hannelore, I want to thank you for what you have taught me. It is a privilege knowing you and it is a privilege to have been coached by you.

Thank you for handing over the reigns of the club to Thomas and other former members of the team. You knew the right time to do the handover, which many leaders do not - your legacy is safe!

Happy 80th.