NORTHFIELD, Minn., August 24, 2011 — Youth athletes are gearing up for fall sports. Many dream of winning the big game. In reality many will struggle with drills, teammates, and losses. Inspiring life lessons were recently relayed to high school athletes and parents by Heather Dordinen Kampf. She fell during a college race, picked herself up, and went on to win.
When I saw the note about the Parents Sports Meeting, I was less than enthused. Trudging to the gym to sit on hard benches and hear ‘blah, blah, blah’ was what I anticipated. Instead, I heard wisdom and saw perseverance from a world class athlete.
Heather Dordinen Kampf was the motivational speaker at our high school spots night. She attended a nearby high school and went on to become a star athlete at the University of Minnesota. Now a professional athlete with Team USA Minnesota, Heather told parents and students to anticipate bumps along the way.
Giving her talk in her running shorts, T-shirt, and ponytail made her seem like the girl next door. She has won some and lost some. She has kept on going even while hitting plateaus.
Heather, number 2 is the leader of the pack.
As Kampf told the crowd, “Goals are important.” She has trained for five years and just last month improved her time.
Recovering from setbacks is another life skill. She showed video footage of one challenge and how she met it during college.
During a NCAA tournament, neck in neck with other runners, she fell. But she got back up and started running. Soon she passed a competitor. She said, “Once I caught the first girl, I felt I could catch more.”
Like other inspirational stories, this one has a happy ending. Heather went on to win the 600 meter race. Now she is preparing for the Olympic trials.
What would have happened if she had not gotten back up?
Certainly she would not have been the motivational speaker for a gym full of students and parents. Her video states that her story is not about her falling. It is about her rising. It is an excellent message for student athletes as well as all of us. (See her race here.)
Donna Rae is an award winning writer, consultant, planner, facilitator, and coach. One Minnesota organization gave her a coveted “Futures” award. Another named her the 2002 Outstanding Faculty member. She has co-authored five books and numerous articles. She is the founder of the consulting firm Leadership Tools. She asks organizations: “Are your leadership tools as up-to-date as your computer systems?”
Read more from Donna Rae Scheffert at Washington Times Communities and Online-Leadership-Tools. Donna Rae can also be found on the strength training circuit, wine tasting, at board meetings, guiding her two teenagers, or dreaming about a sunny location to move with her husband after they retire. Connect with Donna at LinkedIn or follow Donna at Twitter
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