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I truly believe sports are one of the things that unite people the most. Although some sports are very individualistic, when you see the big picture, a person can represent a whole state or country. An athlete can unify an entire country that comes together to support him/her.
By Denise Novoa – “La Pantera”
I recently had the opportunity to participate in a competition called “Exatlon Estados Unidos”. I think this competition represents unity in all aspects – 20 people who did not know of each other’s existence as little as two weeks before. We come from all parts of the world to compete; separated into two teams. We must spend 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 4 months working together to reach team goals and ultimately an individual purpose… to win the whole thing!
But here’s the catch, even though at the end of the day it is individual because only one person wins, if you don’t work as a team since the start, then you won’t even have the chance to reach the individual part. So you MUST work together, you must unite, you must become ONE.
How do sports “team or single” unite athletes?
Sports unite athletes in so many levels and not only athletes.. Sports unite people, families, cities, countries… I think it all comes down to passion. Passion for doing the sport or watching it.
At Exatlon, there were two teams but ultimately we were one big family. We were all there with the purpose to win and that alone created a bond amongst us. We were in the same situation and enduring the same hardships. Being away from your loved ones, unaware of what was happening in the world and without any form of communication. Knowing we were all in the same situation fighting for the same thing united us. You all go through the same feelings of happiness, frustration, sadness, excitement, adrenaline – you are all living the same experience. You are one.
Is being competitive a way of separation or simply challenges athletes to better themselves?
Being competitive is necessary in any sport because if you aren’t there to win, then why are you there? It is necessary to use it as motivation to become better at what you’re doing, BUT it is also important to always have a clear sight of your goal and have a healthy competitiveness. Always keep in mind, it is not personal and everyone came for the same reason.. To win. When you let the ego merge in your competitiveness is when you usually lose.
How can teammates support each other instead of seeing them as competition?
I think this goes hand in hand with the last question. I believe it is always important to keep in mind that as an athlete anywhere you go, the athletes around you are there for the same reason. And that is to win and you must not take that personally. I believe it is very important for athletes to be able to separate competition from real world relationships. I think it is important to leave envy and pride on the side when it comes to good sportsmanship.
Is winning everything or is there more?
There is so much more to winning than just the price. Ultimately, you should always strive to win otherwise, why are you competing in the first place? BUT one must learn to enjoy the journey. One must keep the heart and mind open to allow growth through the process.
In Exatlon, there is so much more than just winning. I think my experience is a good example. I always strived for the win, since day one. Fast forward 4 months of competing everyday and one day before the final I tore my ACL and my meniscus and needed reconstructive surgery to replace my ligament and to suture my medial meniscus. There I understood that there is so much more to the journey than just winning.
In my opinion, the most important advice I could give is (and this might sound cliche but it’s so true) “Literally to enjoy the ride”. You have to enjoy what you are doing, take the sport seriously but not to the point where you stop enjoying it. Become one with the sport, become one with your team, become one with your coaches. You will have an entire country becoming one to support you, to watch you, to cheer on you. You will never know how many people you impact and inspire with your dedication, with your discipline. How many people you will unite with your passion? I certainly didn’t until I got out and realized and everything changed from there. Do it to inspire, because that is the best reward any passion can give you.
Denisse Novoa – La Pantera
IG: @denisse_novoa
Photography by: Halil Ibrahim Özbay
