Issue 478 - Yelena, Dwain and Randy

Hi,
I hope everything is well where you are.

Ok, so let's dive right into this week's issue - the Yelena in the title is Yelena Isinbayeva.
I've been writing about her for years, I remember way back in 2005 when she broke the pole vault world record by being the first woman over 5 metres.

She was at the top of the world, but decided that in order to really go further, she needed to change her style completely.
She wasn't happy with the barriers she knew she was approaching and wanted to tackle them sooner rather than later.

So, she took up the coach of polevaulting legend Sergey Bubka, and spent 2-3 years learning the new style.
In the last fortnight she has taken her world record to 5.03 - just in time for the Beijing Games, and what a superb example of goal achievement and success principles.
She wasn't about to rest on her laurels, that's for sure!

The Dwain in the title is Dwain Chambers, an Olympic story from the other end of the scale. One of the best sprinters in Britain, he was caught as a drug cheat.
Unlike most others, he didnt deny it, he admitted it, and apologised, taking his 2 year ban.

The problems started after that...
According to world athletics he is now eligible to compete again, but the British Olympic Association, unlike those of most other countries, impose a lifetime Olympic ban on drug cheats.
Chambers took the case to court, using the fact the he had won the British Olympic trial to show restraint of trade.

The judge said it couldn't be restraint of trade when it concerend an amateur event only held every 4 years, so the ban stood.

The issue here is of responsibility.
The British Olympic ban has been in place for years, before Chambers started running, and it has since been voted through again by athletes.
He knew the punishment, but did the crime for his own self serving means, no doubt quite happily still reaping the rewards had he not been caught.

How is it that he can now turn round and say 'oh yes I did the crime, but I don't like the punishment?'

This kind of logic drives me up the wall! He says he can be a role model for youngsters.
Yes, he can perhaps as a reformed character, but not if he gets to compete in the Olympics.
The lesson he teaches should be of consequence, not how to dodge consequence.

Ok, the Randy in the title is Prof. Randy Pausch, who died from cancer last week.
When in late 2007 he was told he only had 3 months of good health left, he gave a lecture at his university, and it was a massive sensation across the internet.

It's about his pursuit of his dreams, and how others can do the same.
He said he mainly wrote the lecture to leave behind for his children, but it's proved a huge inspiration all round.

I had never heard of him until today.
His death has sparked renewed interest, and you can see the video by typing Randy Pausch Last Lecture in youtube.
It lasts a bit over an hour, but it's an hour of your life well spent.

It was passed on to me by a friend today, and considering the focus of this newsletter, I couldn't do anything else but pass it to you.

Watch the lecture, and then think which role model out of Yelena or Dwain would be the choice of Randy.

Ok, that's it for this week, which role model would *you* choose?

'Til Next Time,
Health & Happiness,
Gordon
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