Virtues that shape champions

This concerns the Oct. 16 editorial, “Two golds in one day.” It was very wise to highlight the accomplishments of Carlos Yulo and Nesthy Petecio, who both earned gold medals in their respective sports: gymnastics and boxing. The young people of our country need to know the achievements of these young athletes so as to be inspired to follow their example. Yulo himself was driven to do what he did by watching the sport he practiced.

The editorial goes on to suggest that we foster and support “focus sports” instead of the usual popular sports. In these sports, “the Filipino athlete isn’t hamstrung by physical limitations and can flourish on talent and hard work.” These sports “require intelligence, balance, strength, flexibility, agility, coordination and endurance.”

Although the editorial highlighted some physical qualities needed by athletes to become champions, these are not enough. If we look at how any athlete gained a gold medal, we will realize they trained hard. The editorial mentioned “hard work.” But hard work is just the external result of the inner virtues of people: determination, discipline, fortitude (willpower), constancy, optimism, perseverance, a never-say-die spirit, prudence, humility to learn from mistakes, the drive to win and care for details, just to name a few.

If as a nation we foster these inner attitudes in our daily living, it will be very likely we will come up with champions not only for sports but also for life.

FR. CECILIO L. MAGSINO,
[email protected]