Ever wonder what gives top athletes that extra edge that makes them the best? Through my passion for soccer I have been drawn to reading countless articles and books on soccer, and athletics in general, in an effort to answer this question. One of my favorite books, The Sports Gene by David Epstein, delves into the mystery of why some people are faster or can run seemingly impossible distances. This has always fascinated me, since there is no definitive answer to why some people are more athletic and what gives the top athletes their edge over others. Similar books such as Faster, Higher, Stronger by Mark McClusky and Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell have also always peaked my interest to answer my question that seemingly has no answer. These books
…show more content…
Everyone wants to be like their older sibling when they’re young. I was no different when I was 4, I begged and begged until I was allowed to play soccer all because my older sister did. Despite my sister quitting soon after, I continued playing and began kindling a love for the beautiful game that has kept growing since and engulfed a major part of my life. As a result of loving to play the sport I began watching it on TV with my dad, and soon found a team that stood out to me, Tottenham Hotspur. Based in North London, this team has traditionally stood in their down the street arch-rival Arsenal’s shadow for the majority of my life, much to my anguish. I was drawn to Tottenham for several reasons, such as an exciting young up-and-coming star named Gareth Bale that would blow by players with his explosive speed and a diminutive midfielder capable of controlling the game named Luka Modric, both of whom gave me hope to one day reach their level. The biggest reason for supporting Tottenham was their underdog status and a perpetual ability to fall short at the end. While many might find this as an oddity (Why would anyone support a team that isn’t winning and always falls short?) I felt it as something to root for, and something that’d make success even sweeter. Although I will never reach the professional echelons of sports, I still apply this to my academic and amateur athletic careers, as
Everyone wants to be like their older sibling when they’re young. I was no different when I was 4, I begged and begged until I was allowed to play soccer all because my older sister did. Despite my sister quitting soon after, I continued playing and began kindling a love for the beautiful game that has kept growing since and engulfed a major part of my life. As a result of loving to play the sport I began watching it on TV with my dad, and soon found a team that stood out to me, Tottenham Hotspur. Based in North London, this team has traditionally stood in their down the street arch-rival Arsenal’s shadow for the majority of my life, much to my anguish. I was drawn to Tottenham for several reasons, such as an exciting young up-and-coming star named Gareth Bale that would blow by players with his explosive speed and a diminutive midfielder capable of controlling the game named Luka Modric, both of whom gave me hope to one day reach their level. The biggest reason for supporting Tottenham was their underdog status and a perpetual ability to fall short at the end. While many might find this as an oddity (Why would anyone support a team that isn’t winning and always falls short?) I felt it as something to root for, and something that’d make success even sweeter. Although I will never reach the professional echelons of sports, I still apply this to my academic and amateur athletic careers, as