I found some of the athlete’s personal stories from the Olympics to be amazing and I suspect the Paralympics will generate even more inspiring tales.

 

Here are a few thoughts, prompted by the recent Games, showing how inspiration can be kindled, capitalised on and embellished for the future.

 

Track star Mo Farah has taken years to fan the spark of his basic ability.  Mo was inspired to fulfil his potential, crossing oceans in the process.  He started out in Africa and received coaching in Europe, then continued honing his skills in the United States.  Notwithstanding his journey, the Guardian considers that:

 

“the drive that has propelled Farah to his Games-defining feat in his hometown is all is own”.

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/aug/11/london-2012-mo-farah

 

 

British sportswoman Nicola Adams has blazed a trail for others, as the first Gold medallist in women’s Olympic boxing.  According to a Telegraph interview she is prepared for her role as a pioneer:

 

“I definitely want to inspire girls to follow their dreams” she said “and not be bothered by what people say.  That’s what we need – more females being role models in sport”.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/9465732/Nicola-Adams-targets-Rio-double.html

 

 

Cycling Olympian Laura Trott spoke to the Guardian about crowd sourcing encouragement:

 

“I’m peaking at the right time and it’s all thanks to the coaches, and the support of the crowd and my family” she told the BBC.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18903274

 

Basketball’s John Amaechi has an eye for the future.  In his view performance gains for his sport in Britain, cannot be determined quantitatively:

 

“The idea you can grow a sport by counting how many people do something for x minutes a week is ridiculous” he says in a BBC article about the sporting legacy.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19270311