More Important than Winning?

There are things more important than winning.

At the Olympic tae Kwon do trials in mid-May of 2000, Esther Kim forfeited her spot on the U.S. Olympic Team to her injured friend, Kay Poe. Esther and Kay were friends for thirteen years. They both lived and trained in Houston. They were both trained by Esther’s father, Jim Won Kim. The IOC (International Olympic Committee) reduced the number of weight classes to be held in the Sydney Olympics in 2ooo. This reduction meant only one of the girls could compete in the Olympic Games.

Kay Poe was the favorite to win Olympic gold but was severely injured in the semi-finals at the U.S trials in Colorado Springs.  At the very end of a match Poe was dominating, her opponent severely fouled her.  She dislocated her left kneecap and had to be carried off by her coach at the Olympic Training Center.

Kay Poe at 18 was younger than Esther, 20, but was vastly more experienced in international competition.  A fighter on one leg would be very easy to defeat.  Judo is more like Karate – you fight primarily with your hands. In tae Kwon do you fight with your legs.

Esther refused to fight Kay.  She forfeited the match.  She gave four reasons for her decision:

1. She loved Kay like a sister.
2. She could not bring herself to fight an impaired friend. “I would be beating someone who had already been beaten.”
3. She felt the U.S. team should have the best fighter representing the U.S.  The cause was more important to her than the credit.
4. She felt it was the only right thing to do.  “It hurt, but winning a gold medal isn’t everything.  There are other ways to be a champion.”

WOW, would you have done that?  Think about how great it would feel to march in the opening/closing ceremonies.  How would you feel to slip on that United States warm-up jacket?  You would be a celebrity.  If you won a gold or silver medal you could make who knows how much in endorsements.  Your name would change: it wouldn’t be Bob, it would be Olympian Bob or Gold Medal Winner Bob or Susie Silver Medalist.

You need to do your best.

Winning is important.  But it is not necessary to be a champion.

• The cause is what matters
• Your family matters
• The team matters
• The church matters
• Your company matters

Don’t worry about who gets the credit.

DO WHAT IT TAKES TO FURTHER THE CAUSE.

Medal or no medal, YOU’LL BE A CHAMP.

How easy it is to  forget what is really important in life and that is NOT ME but others.

Please comment and  share your thoughts with us.

-Coach T