Olympic Perfomers: What We Learn From Shaun White
Posted on 22. Feb, 2010 by Per Bristow in Performance
The comments that were made in regards to my last post regarding American Idol vs Olympics Performances were nothing but astounding. Reading your stories and insight have brought tears to my eyes. So thank you!
Now, I mentioned Shaun White and I wrote about fear in regards to performance. I also promised I would follow up on this subject. Well, we have certainly witnessed amazing feats in the last couple of days…
Let’s start off with Shaun White. I wrote the previous article before he was about to compete in the finals of the snowboard half pipe. I mentioned how he was the heavy favorite with enormous pressure on him to win, and also expected to perform a trick no one has ever done before. Would he be able to perform at his peak with this kind of pressure?
I also mentioned his attitude, work ethic, his constant challenge to push the boundaries of what is possible, in addition to his fun-loving personality. This has not only made him the peak performer that he is, but has also been a major factor in growing the popularity of his sport.
Well, if you saw the competition you know what happened. In his first run, he flew higher than everyone else. But then in the last trick, he didn’t do the trick everyone had had been waiting for. He did a safer trick, and yet he landed the highest score.
Now being the leader, he would start last in the second run. Since it is the highest score of one of the two runs that counts, everyone else would now have to push the boundaries of their capabilities to outscore him. He had turned the tables and put the pressure on them.
This time no one succeeds and Shaun White is proclaimed the winner without needing to do his second run.
So what do you do now? The pressure is off. You have already won. You’re celebrating. But what do you do? On TV we could sense this dilemma. Just ride down the center and celebrate?
To be able to refocus in this situation is one of the most difficult things to do. If you have listened to Shaun White you know that he needs pressure to perform well. All peak performers do. But where’s the pressure? He has to find it.
Now, of course he knows what people are waiting for. They’re expecting to see the trick – the one everyone has been talking about. Talk about pressure. His coach helps him to refocus – adding to the pressure – by saying: “Don’t do it if you’re not gonna stick it”.
However, his thoughts are likely not on what other people expect. He came to the Olympics with a trick in his bag that he has worked so hard on – the Double MacTwist 1260. Would he walk away without doing it? Of course not, not if you’re Shaun White.
For peak performer is not just about winning, it is about doing what you set out to do – to do something you haven’t done before.
So there he goes in his second run, flies like never before, leaving us mortals gaping in awe over how it is even possible. And then he heads for the last trick… and he does it. He lands his Double MacTwist 1260 perfectly and once again he has given us insights into the spirit of a peak performer.
So was he nervous? Of course. All performers are nervous. In fact, Shaun White speaks openly about it
If you listen to athletes, you will learn that they are all nervous. Some are just more honest about expressing it. The Alpine skier Bode Miller has openly talked about how nervous he has felt this time. And amazing results have followed. To him nervousness is good.
Last week a private client, who is a great singer but hasn’t had much performance experience, mentioned how nervous she is because she is not yet a pro.
I ask you the same question as I asked her:
What has made you believe that professionals are less nervous than you are?
In fact, I will leave you with this to contemplate (and respond to if you wish):
If you are not nervous on a regular basis, you are not challenging yourself enough.
What are you about to do this week that makes you nervous?
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26 Responses to “Olympic Perfomers: What We Learn From Shaun White”
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August 21, 2010
[...] Olympic Perfomers: What We Learn From Shaun White | The Bristow How Shaun White and other peak performers teach us the most important lessons. the third word in the second to the last line of that last comment… I took some group singing lessons which I had to perform in front of the class… hear me when I spoke so I had to take voice projection lessons in grade 1. Olympic Perfomers: What We Learn From Shaun White | The Bristow [...]
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April 5, 2010
[...] Olympic Perfomers: What We Learn From Shaun White | [...]
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Maureen
31. Aug, 2010
Every performance is in a sense, like a test: to see if you can actually do some task to your minimum, if not full expectation of your own ability. So it's competing against oneself. But when I'm performing, it's an exchange between myself and audience, of giving my song away, so I want it to be positive for both of us. I know I might not be at my best every time. I often feel nervous about that. Sometimes the "nerves" are "just right", and spur me on to do my best Other times, the nervousness turns into sheer panic, paralysis. At those times, I have to consciously acknowledge my feeling, rather than fight it. What I resist persists! So I remind myself it's only ENERGY-that I can use to win the race. I try to "fall in" trusting I can catch that energy. So to some extent I can control it, rather than letting it control me. It's what I believe about that nervous feeling that either spurs me on, or paralyzes me. When I acknowledge my nervousness, and use it with the faith that it's a gift, not a demon, I sort of fall into it's arms and trust it, and surrender to the muse rather than letting IT overpower me. I'm not as powerless as I believe. When I don't feel grounded for whatever reason, I'm learning now to not fight/control that. All that's needed is to be humble and surrender my self and trust the energy.
Thank you Per for the great question. Beautiful. Maureen
Stefan
31. May, 2010
Well, feeling nervous when you are in front of many people is sometimes due to lack of confidence and being too conscious about how people reaction to your performance.
kathy
10. Apr, 2010
My sons and I had this conversation just last week talking about Shaun White and his Olympic performance. What Shaun has, as many other medalists have is the 'EDGE". That's what enables them; the "no-fear" complex. I've often felt that fearlessness is the key to those kinds of unforgettable winning performances. But how does one achieve fearlessness? Fear criples, faith enables. Belief and defiance are two noble qualities that are paramount to success as a performer. Belief in your own abilities (once you know what that is…and where your artistic limitations lie) and defiance against negative self-attitudes, inwardly, outwardly, environmentally…such that no matter what the circumstance, you can overcome the pressure and accomplish a winning performance.
Thanks for this post Per, I read your message to my boys and they marvelled!
Bootsthatear
25. Feb, 2010
I never felt nervous when I was doing gymnastics. Once I fell in practice and was laughing!! Not afraid of the fall anymore was why I was laughing. Knew I could fall but wan't afraid cause I knew I'd be ok. the mats were there. Uneven bars. I was too tall for the olympics my teacher told me so…….However I always went last in shows because my teacher said I was the best. I was excited because I knew I was well prepared and enjoyed it so much. Was even lauging during my routine when my pinwheel spun me 7 times. Yes I was counting. I t was a record for me!!!
Singing is another story. I don't try to sing good when I sing. I relay a message through the song like I'm talking only using singing techniques I learned in vocal training. However I have been singing in a lower key lately because singing high comes naturally to me. I like to be the best IN MY EYES. No one can pressure
me more than I pressure myself and I compete against my self. It's all about the song for me now. Not how I sing. My advice to singers is TRY TO CARE LESS!