Half-time. Or as the social media community likes to say: Mid-Season Break. A chance to take a breather, invite the neighbors over for a barbecue, or, even worse, put your smartphone aside for a while.
My summer reading, as expected, is the latest masterpiece by Bret Easton Ellis. Along with Benjamin von Stuckrad-Barre's "Still Awake?", they all play with fiction and reality. Chalmers also writes about virtual worlds. It seems there's an urgent need to categorize our new way of interacting with each other, both from a literary and philosophical perspective.
It would be tempting to assume that this discrepancy between perceived reality and the circumstances that then play out in our mind's eye wouldn't affect us self-confident professional athletes. But how else can we explain the fact that I'm by no means the only one who recently fell victim to a bit of a summer news lull?
What awaits around the next bend? | Photo: Simon Gehr
The active participant, to draw a parallel to the aforementioned authors, would certainly not admit this. He would set his sights on the next race, diligently continue his training, and do everything imaginable to bring his competitors to their knees in this event. This tale will grace my timeline.
On Instagram, I'm not just the main character, but also the director of my own script. After all, we all yearn for the confirmation that our lives, while seemingly ordinary and unremarkable, are actually part of a larger story. The greatest story ever told. And if I don't have all the answers to every problem, that's perfectly fine. As long as the plot moves forward.
Yes, somehow it feels like school days right now: empty streets, oppressive heat. And a good dose of melancholy, something's missing. Yet my summer season started off quite promisingly. A podium finish in the European Cup, a new personal best in the World Championship series, followed by a sixth-place finish in the prestigious World Cup in Hungary. Everything was geared towards the goal of collecting world ranking points to position myself for the year's final highlights, namely the Olympic Test Event in Paris. Because the Olympic Committee awards starting places for next year's Olympic Games at this competition, I had set my participation there as my goal for the year.
In the struggle against oneself and one's own goals | Photo: Marcel Hilger
What the opportunist that I am initially tried to downplay became a bitter reality at the end of July, in the middle of our altitude training camp in the Swiss Engadine. The mission had failed; it wouldn't be enough. As the sixth-placed German, I wouldn't secure a starting place and would remain on the waiting list. The dream with a date became a date without a dream. The relentlessness of competitive sports made its presence felt.
So, as I sit here, constantly bombarded with pictures of the Champs-Élysées on my smartphone, I find myself pondering things. Of course, I question my performance, my preparation, and all the decisions that led to five athletes from the German national team scoring more points than me. But I also try to put things into perspective. What if I turn my back on social media for a week?
We all know the natural urge to primarily share moments when we're happy. Setbacks, on the other hand, are inherently negative, which is why they usually remain hidden. Under the guise of toxic positivity, we need to keep the following in mind: Just because my timeline consists exclusively of success notifications doesn't mean I'm alone in my dashed hopes. But speaking of which, what does failure actually mean?
Appearances are deceiving | Photo: Simon Gehr
The acceptance of social recognition as the primary attribute of success, coupled with the urgent need to justify ourselves to a certain group of people, often leads to self-harm, eating disorders, and other mental illnesses. Other directors may be more naive in this regard; they may gloss over failures for profit or keep their followers in suspense for a while. But by definition, I only fail because of my own goals and ambitions. Consequently, it is essential to formulate these carefully.
In a world rife with privilege and a lack of equal opportunities, we shouldn't allow ourselves to be judged solely on our achievements. Instead, we need a holistic evaluation of what we've accomplished. By focusing on my own progress, I avoid this pitfall. Furthermore, by linking my goals to how my actions have helped others, I create space for a more compassionate and supportive society.
Always upwards: focusing on oneself | Photo: Simon Gehr
Now, sporting competition is undoubtedly characterized by egoism. Both the current trend toward individualization and the agreement to showcase only a select number of athletes for media attention are capable of undermining that altruistic ideal. And of course, without a certain degree of competitiveness, you won't get far in elite sports. Where there are winners, there are always losers. Goals may vary, but we are all united by the motto of making the journey as enjoyable and educational as possible. Through thick and thin, surrounded by our loved ones.
In moments when envy threatens to creep in, when I doubt myself or am momentarily unwilling to choose swim training over an afternoon at the beach, I pause, remind myself of my privileges, get the watermelon out of the fridge, and drive to the seaside with my friend. There are worse places to write a blog post.
Setbacks are simply part of life, no matter how intensely our emotions may be affected. There's no magic bullet against them. Especially when external factors are at play, besides a trip to the sea, the only thing that really helps is the wise advice to savor the next success all the more. As the kind of person who loves being in control, I'm throwing myself back into training. Talent is hard work, and as Mom always said, "When one door closes, another opens." And maybe it will lead us into the very same building.
