Last month, many of us watched the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. For two weeks, we witnessed amazing athletes from around the world who poured their hearts and souls into the preparation necessary to become the elite in their sport. Not only were they under immense pressure to perform, but they also did so under the watchful eyes of the world.

It's exhilarating to see how the best in the world handle such intense competition with poise and grace. As a multisport athlete, I’ve had a taste of this experience on a local level in a few sports—swimming, tennis and triathlon. To some degree, you must do things that others are not willing to do: wake up very early to train, follow a specific diet, push past your limitations, be disciplined, be consistent and follow a plan. And why? For the love of competition.

God bless you and keep you, 

FOR THE LOVE OF COMPETITION

You have a dream. It’s everything.
You envision, you sacrifice, you ache,
But you rise.

You heal, replenish, adapt, push,
Achieve, fall, rise again,
Push harder, Achieve more,
Triumph.

She has a dream. It’s everything.
She envisions, she sacrifices, she aches,
But she rises. She heals, replenishes,
Adapts, pushes harder,
Achieves, falls, rises again,
Pushes harder, Achieves,
She Triumphs.

She is your shadow…

She’s always there,

She sees you,

She reads you,

She drives you,

She never leaves your mind.

Because of her, you are relentless,
you envision, you sacrifice, you ache,
but still you rise.

You grow unbreakable, unstoppable, and grateful—
for the love of competition.