Every two years, we are in awe of Olympians and inevitably, we meet some Olympic parents and hear their stories of sacrifice and support.
There was a time, however, when those Olympic parents were sports parents much like you are. I doubt that most of them really grasped that someday their children would be competing on the world stage. So I wonder, What did they do in those early years that nurtured a child into becoming an Olympic athlete?
In an article on USA Today, Team USA parents discussed their paths to success and I’d like to highlight a few things they said. When asked about what they’d say to sports parents–parents whose shoes they were in a few years ago–this is what they said:
Back them 100% and don’t force them or push them to do it. If they want to do it, they’ll do it. Just support them. Ronald Hamlin of Remsen, NY, father of Erin Hamlin, 2014 bronze medalist in luge and 2018 U.S. flag bearer
You have to sacrifice and be there for your kids, whatever their passion is. It has to be their passions, not the parents. Don and Lisa Little, parents of Broc Little, a forward on U.S. men’s hockey team