"قهرمانان واقعی همیشه کسانی نیستند که برنده می‌شوند بلکه کسانی هستند که بیشترین جرأت را دارند"

Being a champion isn't just about crossing the finish line first or lifting the trophy high. It's about having the courage to keep going, to persevere when the odds are stacked against you. It's about heart and guts—plain and simple.

Think back to the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Kerri Strug, a member of the U.S. women's gymnastics team, was faced with a daunting challenge. During the team competition, she injured her ankle on her first vault attempt. The U.S. needed a solid score to secure the gold medal. Despite the pain and the risk of worsening her injury, Strug decided to go for her second vault. She sprinted, launched, and stuck her landing on one foot. That moment became iconic, not because she didn't feel fear or pain, but because she pushed through them. That's guts.

You don't have to be an Olympic athlete to show guts. Imagine you're working on a team project at your job. The deadline is looming, and everything that could go wrong is going wrong. The easy way out might be to throw in the towel, to say it's impossible. But if you dig in, if you rally your team and push through those final hours, that's guts. Even if the project isn't perfect, the fact that you didn't give up makes you a champion in the eyes of your coworkers.

So, how do you apply this wisdom in your own life? Start by recognizing that setbacks and failures are part of the journey. They don't define you—how you respond to them does. If you’re faced with a challenge, take a deep breath, assess the situation, and figure out what you can do. Even small steps forward are progress.

Consider this scenario: You’ve decided to run your first marathon. You start training, and it's tough—really tough. Some days, you can't even get out of bed, let alone run 26.2 miles. Friends and family might say it's okay to quit, that at least you tried. But deep down, you know you can do it. You wake up each morning, lace up your sneakers, and put in the miles, regardless of how you're feeling. That’s guts. Whether you finish the marathon in record time or drag yourself across the finish line, you’ve shown true champion spirit.

Remember, it’s not the giant leaps that make you a champion, but the small, consistent steps taken with determination and courage. So, next time you're faced with a tough situation, think about Kerri Strug, think about that marathon runner—think about yourself and the guts you have within you. And always, always keep going. That’s what makes you a true champion.