Did you ever dream of winning an Olympic gold medal? Do you have what it takes to be the fastest, most technically perfect or the one who can endure long distance challenges? The ability to perform at this high skill level may be due to a variety of reasons. Body type, muscle composition and cardiovascular capacity are all important elements that can influence sport performance. What all Olympians have and use to help them achieve their athletic goals is love of the sport, motivation, and many hours of practice. Lifelong practice helps neurological pathways develop in your brain producing long lasting skill acquisition changes and optimal sport performance. You may or may not be past your Olympic prime , but what you can learn from watching Olympians such as Alexandre Bilodeau excel during these winter games, is that motivation and frequent extensive practice can help you perform better both in your sport of choice and your lifelong endeavors. Alexandre Bilodeau, motivated by the daily struggles and challenges of his older handicapped brother Frédéric, used this example of perseverance and drive to go after his Olympic dreams. Both Alex and Frédéric are winners we can all be proud of.
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