Every time I turn on the TV, the Japanese are winning Olympic medals -- mostly the same ones -- over and over again. But this is Japan, where repetition is highly prized as a way to impress upon us the vital importance of repetition. Practice, practice, practice and you will succeed.
Although I would never call myself a great athlete, I particularly enjoy the Olympics because, having competed throughout childhood in a variety of sports, I can identify with the pressure and stress that goes with competition. At 27, I was still competing -- as a "veteran" -- in freestyle skiing. But the great thing about a sport such as skiing is that you can take it with you all the way through life. I've been skiing with my parents since I was 3 years old, and I still ski with my father, who is 73. I have fond memories of the whole family packing into the station wagon and driving all day to the mountains on family ski vacations, stopping every hour or so for the kids to visit the toilet.
It seems to me that if you're going to dedicate years of your life to a sport, you should choose a sport you can later apply to other parts of your adult life.