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July 10, 2008

REAL LIFE LESSONS FROM OLYMPIC ATHLETES

pg164 of Shape Magazine, August issue (pg 164). Written by Brett Hill.

"The best way to live in the moment"

When your sport requires you to sail solo for six to eight hours at a time, you have plenty of opportunity to think about life. "One of the most important things I've discorvered is to enjoy the journey," says first-time Olympian Anna Tunnicliffe. It's a lesson she learned during a pre-Olympic trial run in Qingdao, China, on an incredibly difficult and unpredictable bay.

After the first day of the trial, struggling with currents and wind shifts, Tunicliffe found herself in a disappointing 10th place. "On the second day, I decided to stop thinking so much and just sail around and enjoy the experience of being in this mysterious country as part of an international festival," she says.

"I shifted the emphasis from the finish line- and the glory or disappointment that might come with it - to having fun."

Once she allowed herself to sit back and focus on the present, Tunnicliffe wound up in first place. "Sometimes, "she says, "a change in attitude makes all the difference."