Less about natural talent, more about perseverance
Dr Bruce Manners
Senior minister
Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church
Australia has a new sporting hero with Sally Pearson’s win in the 100 metres hurdles in Korea on Saturday. It took her only 12.28 seconds from starter’s gun to finish line but 16 years to gain her World Championship gold.
Her journey hasn’t been easy. It began when she was eight years old, when athletics coach Sharon Hannon recognised her talent. Her single mother, Anne, worked several jobs to pay for Sally’s training.
At the age of 14 (2001), Pearson won the Australian under-20 100 metres title. The next year injury interrupted her career. In 2003, she won gold in the 100 metres hurdles at the World Youth Championships in Canada and represented Australia in the four by 100 metres relay team at the World Championships in Paris.
At the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Pearson tripped over a hurdle and fell during the 100 metres final. During the 2009 World Championships, pain from back spasms impaired her run in the finals—she came fifth.
Most of us probably first noticed her when she won silver at the 2008 Olympic Games. Her excitement and joy? Obvious and replayed time and again on television.
At last year’s Commonwealth Games, Pearson won the 100 metres and the 100 metres hurdles finals but lost the former after a protest (she’d been permitted to run after a false start). Then she collapsed after the four by 100 metres, distraught she may have let the team down when it placed fifth.
It’s obvious Pearson’s world championship win is less about her natural talent and more about her perseverance. That’s the lesson. Few things come without effort.
Whatever race you’re running will take dogged effort to win. It’s worth it, though, just ask Sally Pearson.
Tags: Bruce Manners