Defeats: Lessons Beyond Victories

By Beka Romero

In both sports and in life, successes and victories usually receive the most attention, but what do we do when we fail or think we fail?

 The fights won, the championships conquered, the celebrations above and below the ring are moments that are celebrated with joy and passion. However, behind every victory is an equally important but often overlooked component: DEFEATS.

 These defeats or failures, far from being simply obstacles on the path to “success,” play a fundamental role in the growth of development of athletes and any person. Here are some points about the value of defeats in sports and the lessons they come with:

 1.Humility:

Humility is essential to maintain respect for rivals, coaches and the continuous learning process. Also, teaching athletes to stay focused on personal improvement rather than superiority over others, remember that the only competition is with yourself.

2.Self-evaluation:

Defeats offer the opportunity to reflect on performance. Boxers and athletes can identify areas of improvement and work on them, for example: Perfecting punches, achieving an optimal weight loss process and having fun in training: enjoying the process.

3. Resilience:

Athletes must learn to get up after falling, defeats entail resilience. This resilience translates into the ability to overcome challenges in and outside of sport. Many athletes, after a defeat, take a break to return, as they call it, “Stronger” and not only physically but mentally.

Finally, defeats in sports remind us that the road to success is full of ups and downs and that “success” is a subjective concept that varies according to each person’s objectives.

True victory is the ability to overcome and learn from defeats, but also to try and try until you reach it.