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Let the (mind) Games begin
By Gu Wen
Updated: 2007-08-02 11:30
The wise words of China's gymnastics chief should be pinned on the bedroom wall of every young hopeful dreaming of glory in 2008.
Upon awakening, the Middle Kingdom's fittest and finest should read Gao Jian's command and repeat it out loud. DON'T GET A BIG HEAD.
This recent message against complacency is exactly what his crack squad needed to hear after total domination at the Asian Games. China's powerful display at Doha, in all sports, gave Chinese die-hard fans plenty to cheer about, but the nation's elite athletes should not rest on these local laurels.
In fact, they should clear their minds of these inconsequential victories. Although China's gold medal haul at Doha looked impressive in newspaper headlines, they are well and truly yesterday's news. All that matters now is the Beijing Games and Gao's sensible advice is a signal that the Games have already begun.
The Beijing Olympic mind games. One of the smartest coaches in world sport is current Russian football manager Guus Hiddink and it appears China is adopting his simple yet very successful motivational tactic. The Dutch super coach worked miracles with South Korea in 2002, lifting them to the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals and last year, rocketed Australia to the Round of 16. He boosted the Socceroos when they really needed to rise, and the lads from Down Under nearly toppled the might of Italy.
Hiddink's secret was simple. When Australia thrashed New Zealand or annihilated the Solomon Islands in the World Cup qualifiers he berated his boys, urging them to do better. However, when they struggled against a stronger team, he lavished praise. When spirits rose, he dampened them. When confidence dropped, he was quick to encourage.
Top coaches, such as Gao and Hiddink, know pride comes before the fall, and illusions of grandeur cannot be allowed to creep to any athlete's psyche. China's Olympians need to rise to their greatest heights in August next year, not now. When it's time, these heroes will have no shortage of encouragement. The world's biggest ever Olympic home crowd is also ready to rise and the cheer will be deafening.
