My New Aspriation

I've never really followed the Olympics until this past summer, where I was watching it every day. I was blown away by the sportsmanship shown throughout the different events and it made me realize that not everyone on that level is competitive to a point where they are rude to competitors. I was really impressed with the gymnastics but what really caught my attention was the track and field. I have never in my life had an interest in running except for occasionally sprinting but after watching the Olympic track events, especially the 100m and 200m it was like my entire attitude towards running changed. I'll describe it as being "bitten by the running bug" as some might say. I saw Usain Bolt dominate the 100m and the 200m for the second Olympics in a row and I was inspired beyond words. All of a sudden I decided that I would be like him and become an Olympic athlete. Luckily for me, track isn't a sport like gymnastics where you have to start at the age of 3 to have any chance at making the Olympics, a lot of track stars start in early high school or late middle school. I made the decision sometime last year to do winter track, but that was primarily because I just wanted to do a sport. Recently I've been really looking forward to doing winter track to gauge whether or not I could actually be good at the sport. If I find that I'm running the 100m in 15 seconds or the 200m in 32 or so, I probably don't have much of a chance of making it to the Olympics. My goal by the end of the winter track season is to be able to run the 100 in around 12.5 seconds if I can get the start right. Depending on where I am at the end of the season I'll most likely quit lacrosse and do track in the spring and hopefully I'll knock off another .2 seconds. I've been warned that in training for the 100m I'd have to do several longer distance runs but unlike before I look forward to doing them if it will improve my sprinting. Throughout the track season I will look up to people like Usain Bolt, Carmalita Jeter, Allyson Felix, and Sanya Richards-Ross to continue to motivate myself. I know this is far-fetched but I'd like to make it to the 2016 Olympics. I have no illusion that I'll get close to medaling, if I went I wouldn't even get to the semi-finals but just getting to Rio would be incredible. In the 2020 Olympics I'm definitely going to the finals.

Carmalita Jeter after winning the silver medal in the 100m at the 2012 Olympic Games