Encouraging Our Young Athletes Toward Success

Each year, I write notes of encouragement to the children on my gymnastics team, hoping that my words will inspire them, especially when they need a little extra support. This year, as I was researching quotes about overcoming obstacles and finding success, I found myself reflecting on a bigger message.

I came across some well-known sayings from famous people like Vince Lombardi, who said we should “work hard,” and Mark Twain and Thomas Edison, who urged us to “do it now.” Richard Branson encouraged us to “keep challenging ourselves.” And so many more, and while these ideas are valuable, they can also feel a bit repetitive. These kids hear about hard work and determination all the time, so I knew that going down the same path might just prompt a “yeah, yeah” response.

We all know that challenges and hard work are important, but sometimes, challenges get the best of us, and that’s okay. Success in gymnastics—or in anything, really—doesn’t mean always coming out on top. Sometimes, the honor lies in the journey and the growth, and not just in beating the challenge.

I also explored what not to do, looking at ideas from people like Steve Jobs, who advised against wasting time and living someone else’s dreams. Bill Gates said success requires openness to change. While these are true, they still seemed too obvious for what I wanted to say.

One quote from Winston Churchill did stand out: who in essence said we shouldn’t ignore criticism because it shows us what we need to improve, like pain in the body signals where we need to focus. But after some thought, I realized I didn’t need to tell my gymnasts to listen to me. They already do, with respect and dedication.

So here’s what I decided to tell them—something I hope they’ll take to heart and truly think about:

You have the incredible power to define your own success. At the end of the day, you get to decide what winning means for you. It’s an honor to be able to set your own standards, measure your performance by your own terms, and not by someone else’s definition of victory.

If you focus on simply beating others, even a medal around your neck won’t bring real fulfillment. But if you compete to meet your own standards, to be better than you were yesterday, then you’ll find true satisfaction. Victory is about growth, not just trophies or medals.

I’ve always said that the only true losers are the ones who give up on learning. That’s not you. I believe there are two kinds of athletes: Winners and Learners. If you fall short of your goals, come back with a plan to improve and set yourself up for better results next time. True winners define success by how much they learn, not just by their medals.

So remember: if you’re open to learning, you can never lose.

What will you define as your own success?