Wilma Rudolph, or “Skeeter,” won three gold medals in the track and field Olympics in 1956 and 1960. She was the first American woman to have this honor. Jackie Joyner-Kersee competed in the 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996 Olympics and won a total of six medals in track and field - more than any other woman. Cody Miller made the world smile in August of 2016 when he shouted with glee after earning the bronze in the 100m breaststroke.
Those accomplishments would be inspiring no matter their background, but dig a little deeper into the history of these Olympians and you will find they weren’t always considered natural athletes destined for greatness. Each one had a physical impairment. None of them used their obstacle as an excuse to not aim high.
Wilma Rudolph wore a brace on her left leg as a child after suffering from double pneumonia, scarlet fever, and polio. Her doctors told her she would never walk again. It wasn’t uncommon to see Jackie Joyner-Kersee on the field gasping for breath or even hospitalized due to exercise induced asthma and extensive allergies. Cody Miller has the birth defect pectus excavatum giving his chest a hollow look and reducing his lung capacity. Swimming was just supposed to be therapeutic. Each overcame their supposed limitations to earn a place in history.
How Does Overcoming Obstacles in Sports Relate to Math?
Whether or not math, or a sport, comes easily to you does not define how great you can become in it. Greatness comes from setting goals and working towards them. Some people underestimate the tremendous amount of work Olympians like Michael Phelps and Simone Biles put into becoming stand-outs in their sports. They say things like, “Of course they’re champions. They have ideal body types for their sport.” People make the same mistake about what it takes to excel in math. You often hear people say, "My brain is just not wired for math." You don’t need a huge parietal lobe, the part of the brain used for math, to excel in math. Math is a skill that can be learned - like swimming or soccer or driving. To grow your ability, you need to exercise your brain in math frequently and with intensity.
Aren’t Some People Just Bad at Math?
Some people do have a harder time learning math than their peers, but don’t make excuses for poor performance and then stop trying. Poor performance in math often indicates a problem that requires a strategic response. If you think Mathnasium of Parker could be part of your strategic response to your child's math struggles, give us a call at 303-840-1184 and schedule your no-risk assessment today.
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