Some believe it was the flu. Others claim it was food poisoning care of a late-night pizza delivery in Utah. Either way, Michael Jordan, His Airness, scored 38 points in 44 minutes of game five in the 1997 NBA finals and delivered one of the most iconic sports memories of my childhood.
Similarly, a pulled hamstring, swollen knee and no time to take batting practice are not exactly a recipe for success. However, on one fateful night in October of 1988, that’s exactly the circumstances Kirk Gibson and his World Series-winning Los Angeles Dodgers experienced when, with a hobbled body, he belted an unfathomable Game 1 Home Run.
Then there’s the ultimate competitor, Tiger Woods. Risking permanent damage at the 2008 U.S. Open, Woods limped down each fairway with a torn ACL, two stress fractures, cartilage damage and even extra playoff holes en route to his 14th major championship.
It would be laughable to suggest that illness or injury is performance-enhancing and I am not suggesting athletes ignore pain. I am, instead, highlighting the mental resilience and focus athletes can summon in less-than-ideal situations. When these limitations are interpreted as focus-narrowers, the important elements of performance are in plain view.
When athletes endure certain ailments, they do not possess the mental energy to be concerned with pressure, technique or any other external factors, they can’t focus on anything other than what matters: the process and the skills previously mastered that require discipline not thought. The pain they experience forces them into the present moment and removes unnecessary distractions, bringing the essentials into plain view. So, next time you are concerned that you do not feel 100% physically or emotionally, don’t count yourself out. It may just provide the formula for unbreakable focus.