MAKES & MISSES

By Jose R. San Miguel

Third attempts define you.

I’m not talking about whether you make or miss the bar, but how you face the bar, and your decision to either compete on that last attempt or accept early defeat.

Everyone faces a third jump. Some dread it and become hesitant and glum, thinking their meet is over; others approach it emotionally strong. They make the physical and technical adjustments in their mind, then they get fired up to prove they can exceed the bar.

In this singular effort, these vaulters practice overcoming any obstacles life throws their way. They beat fear back.

There are a number of reasons why we end up missing twice and have to jump a third time to prevent a no height, stay in the competition, or go for the win.

It may be technical. The run may be off, making it difficult to get into the pit. The standards may not be in the right place for your jumps that day, or you are not mentally prepared to deal with the adverse realities of jumping outdoors. Maybe your pole is too small for the tail wind, or you have a slight injury. Perhaps you are not feeling it.

Technical, mental, and environmental factors will impact what you achieve. What you decide to do between the second and third jumps will have a profound effect on your outlook for the next meet, and on how you adjust when life requires you to come up big.

My advice? Control what you can.

Sometimes we cannot put it together technically. The step is inside, the plant is late, you are not driving, and may be pulling instead of pushing. These can be managed.

We can wait for our plant to magically fix itself, or we can drive longer to make it to the back of the pit, so that the step is not a foot inside. You can jump on the same pole you have been blowing through because it is your comfort pole, or you can reach into the bag and grab the one you are afraid of, but know is what you need to compete on in that moment. You can wait for the wind to shift, but you must be prepared to jump even if it is not blowing your way.

Fear limits you, until you decide it can’t.

The technical decisions you make affect you emotionally. You know what you should do when confronting the third bar, but do you do it right then, or do you delay your success? Accept what is happening and go for it anyway. Focus on one or two things to execute, no more.

Be determined, not daunted.

The next time you confront your third attempt, choose to compete without hesitation. Third attempts can be the greatest jumps of your career! Give yourself the best chance by grabbing the next pole, gripping up, and going. If you miss, congratulations! You did not let fear win. You will always be better off trying your best and failing than playing it safe and wondering what could have been.

Imagine what Tim Mack, Steven Hooker, and Stacy Dragila would be thinking today if they accepted defeat before their third attempts. They all became Olympic medalists thanks to their last jump!

2000, 2004, 2008 Olympic Games Finals Scorecards

Source: Wikipedia

2008 Olympic Games Scorecard

2004 Olympic Games Scorecard

2000 Olympic Games Scorecard