October 22, 2007

Who defines a Champion?

In my experience, I find that answer to be open-ended. Some will define a champion based on the level of awards or accolades received by a professional audience, (Big West Conference). Then there are others who define a champion by levels of effort put forth, risks taken, and undying passion that constantly falls short of the World Series publicity coverage that they yearned for their whole life. I know athletes from both spectrums of being Champion-worthy. Yet again, who am I but another fellow student-athlete?

Time and time again student-athletes get their heart broken over games lost, season-ending injuries, and sometimes even the career ending at its worst. Athletes who sign up for the challenge, knowing that pain, (measured physically, emotionally, and mentally), is guaranteed is legitimate enough in showing character. Staying on board after repeated trials, tribulations and skepticisms defines an athlete’s courage. The most received definition of a champion is a skewed social construct that I am attempting to clear up. Granted the ultimate goal of each year for each season sport is to be the best and taking first in the conference and then in the Division. The truth is, I sometimes find myself questioning that since I have only been a part of one First Place team in my whole athletic experience so far, does that make me any less of a Champion? Does a person who gave up each weekend during high school, merely to practice hours on end for their sport, meanwhile giving up the social life, any less of a candidate to be a Champion because their team did not win BIG? The problem is that so much pressure and influence has been put on winning everything that it is nothing, that some lost souls searching for the “enough factor” never quite make it.

If I am, by any means, not making sense, all I mean is that athletes risk more to be a “champion” when all along they probably were to begin with. Eight knee surgeries later and a laundry list of injuries plus mental breakdowns, have left me attempting to define or clear up my life as an athlete. There is no question that love drives me to continue, but what about those others once a season ends or a career ends indefinitely? With no way to continue further in that season or sport, does being a champion no longer exist once a sport ends? I am writing this to answer NO. Being a champion does exist after a sport, but must also be a consistent attitude within the career of a sport. Along my path I have known handfuls of people who ended their career because the Doctor said there was no alternative. I have sat in my own Doctor’s office and listen to questioning of my future in softball, and had enough stubbornness or more positively put, Champion, in me to push through. That is a Champion. I desire not to sound conceited, merely come off respectfully saying that since more athletes will be disappointed and left with heartache from their sport, it is important to note when one comes along as the true definition of what and who a Champion should be.

I look around my student-athlete population, and on my campus alone I see several. Realistically I know a few who push me to endure the heartache and persist through the craziness of stresses, because within them, playing the sport is ENOUGH. It is enough to make life worth living. It is enough to go against those who raised doubt. Striving to be a Champion is enough, even if that means we still end up short of the trophy, at least our self-definition will be satisfied and surrendered.

This blog was inspired by a few student-athletes along the way that have made my journey worth enduring and most of all thankful for the opportunity.

-Kristie