Set The Course

The tension built steadily for two years. More than 475 of the world’s best canoeing athletes poured their hearts and souls into this peak event. On the line were not only world titles but the first chance for participating nations to qualify the limited and coveted start positions for next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo. Several nations intensified the stress by planning to name athletes to their 2020 Olympic Team based on their performance.

Life-changing wins and dream-shattering losses were a part of the Canoe Slalom World Championships that we recently hosted here in La Seu d’Urgell.

Moments after the final boat crossed the finish line, I stood up from my announcer’s chair and hugged Ignasi, my broadcast partner in handling all of the in-stadium commentary. Exhausted and drained, I walked away from the Parc del Segre and towards a short but much-needed decompression.

Upon entering the Parc del Segre 48 hours later, I expect the normal sights and sounds of deconstructing the World Championship venue. Metal clashing upon metal as the temporary spectator bleachers come down. Or the thump of giant sheets of canvas, previously the staging tents for athletes and teams, crashing to the ground.

But, there is one deconstructing moment that I do NOT expect to see.

Just beside the river channel, someone is adjusting the practice gates, the pairs of red and green poles that hang from wires above the water and guide the athlete exactly where to position themselves and their boats when navigating the turbulent river currents.

Typically, if a training session is about to start, several coaches would move the gates into new positions over the water. However, at the moment, there is no training. There is not even water in the channel. There is no sign of an upcoming training session any time soon.

This “Someone” adjusting the practice gates is not a coach. It is Maialen Chourraut, my neighbor, 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist, and the winner of Spain’s first-ever Olympic Gold Medal in Canoe Slalom.

Maialen is still actively pursuing canoe racing at the highest level. Her performance in the World Championships in La Seu d’Urgell did not go as planned. She struggled to find her rhythm and eventually landed in 10th position in the Women’s Kayak category.

Tenth in the world and guaranteeing Spain’s start position for next year’s Olympic Games is a great accomplishment. But, to those of us who watch this champion’s daily training sessions know that these past few days were not Maialen’s best work. Maialen knows this was not her best work.

“So, back to training?” I ask, gently greeting my long-time friend after what has been an intense few years.

“I am not exactly sure what I am doing,” Maialen says to me. “I just thought to adjust the practice gates. Then, the course will be ready.”

Within this champion’s initiative to begin again is a subtle yet profound suggestion.

Instead of always trying to motivate ourselves to push, launch, and/or succeed, what if we simply adjust our own “practice gates”?

Then, our course will be set when we choose to begin again.

With gratitude,

-Joe

Performance Coaching With Olympic Gold Medalist, Joe Jacobi

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