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A New Motivation for Muhammad ... and
you Splash, December 1998 |
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Other Columns Secretariat The End of an Era
To My Friends The Duke A New Motivation for Muhammad ... and
you Splash, December 1998By Sabir "the Duke" Muhammad II, Special Splash Correspondent Many athletes experience times when they feel their sport has nothing else to offer them, especially in a sport like swimming where there are few material incentives. To all of the swimmers out there who are trying to decide what to do with their lives, I offer you a personal testimony and hopefully a new motivation to help guide your future
decisions. Often we see talented athletes who simply quit their sport out of lack of motivation. What is the intangible quality that pushes us all? If we are able to find one force that drives us day-after-day and practice-after-practice, then we have already accomplished a task that will most certainly help us achieve our
goals. After a horrible Olympic Trials in 1996, I completely lost my desire to compete. Like many other athletes, I no longer recognized the joy and excitement that swimming brought me; rather, I was consumed with a vision that I had created for myself instead of enjoying my training and competitions leading to the Olympic Trials. I did not see the road to the Olympic Trials as significant. I only recognized the ultimate goal of making the team as being special. Sure enough, after a season of over-training and mentally stressing over making the team, in March of 1996 I faltered, failing to qualify for an Olympic Games that I felt I was destined to
make. My recovery began during the Olympic Games in the town I grew up in-Atlanta. I remember the tears of joy shared with my family when we saw Muhammad Ali lighting the Olympic torch during the Opening Ceremonies. We were so overwhelmed with this experience because of our personal relationship with him and his family. My mother, Jessica, traveled to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, an Islamic religious pilgrimage, with her close friend Khalila Ali, Muhammad's wife at that time. Muhammad and I were both born in Louisville and it was there that I met him for the first time-he held me as an infant. Knowing Muhammad Ali personally made it even more inspiring to see this man who struggled most of his life to combat prejudice stand there representing the world as a symbol of
peace. On that night Ali not only lit the Olympic torch, he also rekindled my desire to compete in the Olympic
Games. What is it about Ali that makes him the most recognizable man in the world? His fame came not only from his athletic accomplishments and prowess, but also because he transcended sport as we know it. He transformed himself from an athlete to a diplomat and leader of nations. Ali is the greatest because of what he did outside of the ring-fighting war and prejudice throughout the
world. Ali uses sport as a vehicle to influence and genuinely affect society. That makes it easier for me each time I prepare to train or compete. I look at Ali's example and realize that, for me, sports are about peace and the Olympic Games represent the epitome of positive human interaction. My motivation no longer lies in achieving time standards or medals. I'm driven by the possibility that through swimming I may achieve a standard that transcends all sports-a standard of human
excellence. Finding the motivation to commit is a long process that develops as you mature. Certainly there is some aspect of swimming that each of us finds special. Do not be discouraged if you are not captivated anymore by things that once drove you. When you start each day with a fresh perspective, it helps you through the early morning practices and long
sets. Swimming is a fascinating sport with room for many personalities and a variety of motivations. I find that learning about the heroes of our sport like Pablo Morales, Jeff Rouse and Matt Biondi helps me when I start to lose my drive. I get excited because these heroes have set a standard for us all to
follow. Since there is no specific recipe for success we have the opportunity to create our own. Do not fear having a different approach to swimming and never compromise your personality in any way. The best way to success is being comfortable who you are ... trying live up to some other person's expectations simply causes problems. We all have a significant story that distinguishes us from others. Success comes from having the courage to live your own
story. About the Author Sabir Kasib Muhammad II is a recent graduate of Stanford University, where he earned 25 All-America honors, two shy of the maximum possible. He grew up in Atlanta, swimming for Tommy Jackson and the City of Atlanta Dolphins. Muhammad ended up at Stanford after Olympic legend Pablo Morales made a recommendation to Stanford swim coach Skip Kenney. He swam at the 1995 Pan Pacific Championships in Atlanta and qualified for the 1999 Pan American Games. He is a member of USA Swimming's Resident
Team. His ultimate goal is to participate in the 2000 Olympic Games and become "the first of many African-American
swimmers to compete for the United States."
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