With the Rio Olympic Games only months away, it’s inevitable that thoughts turn to success stories of previous Games and, most notably, the people who made it to the podium. But will the real winners in 2016 be those who see through the media hype and draw from the journeys to the Olympic stage, and the experiences of the ‘also-rans’?

HERO: A person who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.

Traditionally, the term ‘hero’ has been reserved for those who demonstrate heroic feats during times of war. While not on a par with those in the trenches, athletes do have a need for physical and emotional courage. Sadly, their route to success is often edited, resulting in sporting stars like Usain Bolt seemingly appearing from nowhere to take Olympic glory overnight.

In reality, such talent is the result of years of hard work and dedication to a chosen discipline. Indeed, Bolt’s success in the 2012 Olympics was a journey that started many years before - his first medal being a slightly less newsworthy bronze at a high school athletics meet - but he isn’t the only example of legendary talent taking its time to manifest.

As a sophomore, Michael Jordan was rejected from his high school’s varsity basketball team, apparently lacking the necessary skills. He turned it to his advantage though, stating: “I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

CLOSER TO HOME
Team Matrix ambassador and Olympic Champion, Dani King MBE - having missed out on selection for the British Cycling U23 Academy - left the British Cycling system in 2009, before being invited back in 2010 when her work ethic, coupled with the ‘no stone left unturned’ mentality to training, resulted in her improving in leaps and bounds. The rest, as they say, is history, with Dani going on to win Olympic gold and three World Championship golds, along with a handful of European and British
Championship medals and titles.

Joe Townsend, another Matrix Ambassador and Rio hopeful is just as committed, commenting: “I might not always be the best athlete on paper, but I will work the hardest and I will never give in.”

Sport does have a competitive edge, and, ultimately contenders train hard with the belief that it’s getting them closer to a win; a faster time, a higher jump, but, as stakeholders in the fitness industry, perhaps our focus should be on what it takes to get them there; the dedication and drive - ingredients for success that make an athlete inspirational and, at the same time, their achievements realistic?

IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU
Conscious of the public platform that sport offers, Matrix works closely with ‘Team Matrix’ ambassadors, offering direct access to athletes at all levels and providing unedited insights into their journeys; inspiring the next generation and challenging them to be the best that they can be.

One example of this was the brand’s support for ‘Fan-Backed Women’s Racing’ a network of cycling professionals, riders, and fans dedicated to furthering opportunities for womens’ cycle racing run in conjunction with British Cycling coach, Huw Williams. The sessions inspired young rider, Isla Rush, to race, and earlier this year she was signed by the Matrix Fitness Racing Team as they sidestep from traditional cycling team environments to focus on developing riders and supporting them to realise their potential.

Matrix’ work with the cycling team has led to a nomination for ‘Sponsor Partnership of the Year’ in the Women’s Sport Trust #BeAGameChanger awards.

The awards recognise those individuals and organisations doing the most to progress womens sport and inspire others to take action. With obesity and physical inactivity an ever-present challenge for today’s society, clearly something needs to change, and with the Olympics just around the corner, there is no better time to convince the next generation to search for the hero inside themselves.