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May 27, 2008

Community Leaders Discuss Value Of Sport Beyond The Finish Line

Winning may be lauded in North American culture but losing, and the lessons learned therein, may well provide the greater benefit in life and can ultimately serve as a critical stepping stone to achieving greater success.

That was just one of the topics discussed Monday in Vancouver at a special forum and fundraiser initiated by the Achilles Track and Field Society, organizer of the annual Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic. Beyond the Finish Line featured an evening forum and discussion with four athletic and community leaders who continue to serve as outstanding role models in society and sport.

Proceeds from the evening benefited the Jerome Talent Search Program, initiated to provide track and field training and competition opportunities for youngsters in several Vancouver inner city elementary schools.

"I've learned more from the races that I've lost than those that I've won," remarked Canadian 800-metre record holder Gary Reed, silver medallist at the 2007 world track and field championships. "In track and field, I made the decision a long time ago that I was going to lose at certain times, it was going to happen. I also accepted the fact that every time I did lose, I would fix something so that the next time I wouldn't lose for that reason."

Reed was joined on the panel by five-time Olympian and Olympic silver medallist Charmaine Crooks, former national team runner and current CEO of Westbank Projects Ian Gillespie, and B.C. Supreme Court Justice Bill Smart, a member of Canada's 1972 Olympic team. Dr Doug Clement, Professor Emeritus of Sports Medicine at the University of B.C., served as panel moderator.

Gillespie noted the struggle and process of training and competing were of great benefit to him in post-athletic life. Learning to take risks, on the track and then in business, have helped him achieve enormous success.

"One of the things that went on to help me in my career was that the 800 metres requires a lot of risk-taking, in the sense that will I go out that fast and hold my pace," said Gillespie. "The only way you are going to win, or achieve a great time, is by taking a big risk. The 800, more than any track event, requires an ability to take on a lot of risk and that was a thing that stuck with me."

Justice Smart lauded participation in sport as a perfect vehicle for discovering the merits of winning and losing.

"You learn from both," he said. "Winning gives you confidence. Losing is just part of continuing to strive and to ultimately achieve success. One of the things about losing is we all have to learn about it. Don't be afraid to fail. Recognize it's going to happen."

Crooks, a silver medallist at the 1984 Summer Olympics, made a critical point in discussing the value of achievements earned even if an individual does not finish first.

"When you win, you learn a lot about yourself," she said. "There are inherent lessons there. But some of my best performances came when I didn't win - when I ran the Canadian record I finished sixth. In business, you're not going to please every client, or win every account. You can go in and learn from each experience, how to be better next time."

The 25th annual Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome International Track Classic goes June 21 at Burnaby's Swangard Stadium.

For meet media inquiries contact:
Diane Clement
dclement00@hotmail.com or (604) 261-6220

For athlete information contact:
Marek Jedrezejek
marekj@interchange.ubc.ca or (604) 822-6259

or

Doug Clement
dclement00@hotmail.com

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