Hello, and welcome to the Leadership Done Right Podcast, Episode 67: 5 Stories of Resilience.
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Hi friends! Last week I shared the story of Abraham Lincoln and how he was resilient to overcome the challenges that he faced in life. Each challenge helped him on his journey to becoming the President of the United States and one of the most influential people in history.
5 Stories of Resilience
This week I would like to continue that theme. In this episode, I am going to share five stories of resilience. Each of these stories give me hope and help me have the courage to get back up when the going gets tough.
As you listen to these stories, some of these stories are shared in the own words of those who experienced the challenges and got back up. I used clips from those people and will include links to their stories in the show notes. Be sure to check them out!
1. Kerri Strug’s Olympic Moment
Back in 1992 at the summer Olympics, the USA gymnastics team was fighting for the gold medal. On that team was a young woman named Kerri Strug. Well, that summer, USA only took home the bronze. In fact, the USA never had yet received the gold medal for the Team-All-Around event. They were determined to beat Russia and Romania in the next Olympic games.
1996 Summer Olympic Games
So in 1996, Bela Karolyi was the coach and led the US team. He was famous for the incredible physical demands he placed on his athletes.
That year the pressure was high because of the pressure to succeed. The vault was especially tough because the Russians, or USSR back then, had dominated that event for decades. In 1996, it wasn’t any different.
The Romanians and the Russians were emerging as the main contenders, looking like they were going to win the gold and silver medals yet again. But after a closely fought contest, the U.S. was leading going into the final event, the vault.
The Vault
Dominique Moceanu, one of Kerri’s teammates was supposed to seal the win. She was only 14 years old. When she missed her landing, team U.S.A. turned to Kerri Strug to pull them through to win the gold. Spectators were on their feet, cheering Kerri on to stick the landing.
As she bolted in a hard sprint for the vault, hearts were pounding. Initially, it was both shock and disappointment that Kerri didn’t stick the landing. But as she got off the mat, she was limping.
The Injury
Kerri heard a snap as she landed. Unbeknown to her, she had torn two ligaments in her ankle. Under normal circumstances, that would mean the end of her Olympic games. But Team U.S.A. needed one 
last solid vault to seal the nation’s first-ever gold medal in the Team-All-Around.
Kerri just wasn’t ready to go home with a silver and neither was Bela Karolyi, her coach. He told her the team needed her to go one more time to ensure their victory against the Russians. She prepared for her second and final vault on a bad foot.
A Moment of Resilience!
All eyes were on her as she sprinted down the runway for the second and final time. In my mind, as you watch her sprint, I remember thinking, “Oh my word, how is she running like she’s not injured? She was limping when she finished her last vault!”
I don’t think anyone was breathing as they watched her sprint for the vault. She bounced high, twisted and turned, and then…. Landed on one…. Foot. Tears streamed down her face, partly out of pain in her ankle, partly from exhaustion, and partly from pure joy. Kerri did it. She took the team to win their first ever Team-All-Around gold medal.
My Thoughts
What an amazing moment of resilience that was for Kerri! She received a painful injury but was able to push through to make her dream a reality! She also helped fulfill dreams of the whole nation!
2. Bounce Back Stronger, Stories of Resilience – Three Stories from Jonathan Ng, Tan Wai Jia, and Adam Kamis
Now we are going to hear three stories from Jonathan, Tan Wai, and Adam. https://youtu.be/TcZ1NQsLSnY
Here’s three of my favorite quotes from their stories. “Life tripped me up, but I bounced back stronger!” “Encouragement from my loved ones made all things possible for me!” “The most important thing is how you finish the race!”
3. Jeremy Poincenot – How a Golfer Lost His Sight and Became a Champion
This next and final story is about Jeremy Poinenot who became a champion golfer after losing his sight! https://youtu.be/X7qE9AlKPc4
What an amazing story. I can’t imagine how hard it must’ve been to lose your sight. Then, to step up and continue playing golf, the sport you love, and become a champion golfer is incredible.
I really liked hearing his experience with the other blind golfer. The other man golfed a 324 and he was thrilled to just be out golfing while Jeremy was disappointed and frustrated with a lousy 97 as he saw it. Boy that puts things into perspective!
Turning a Negative Into a Positive
Every time something doesn’t go our way, that provides an opportunity for us to take a negative and turn it into a positive! Here is one final audio clip from Ben Lionel Scott (https://youtu.be/PdjHG_bGKhk).
When life throws us curveballs, the best thing we can do is be resilient. Life is hard! As we go through challenges and trials, we have the opportunity to learn and grow. That helps us become stronger. Each experience provides us with lessons that we can draw from in the future to become our best selves.
Conclusion
I hope each of these stories help you have a stronger resolve to be resilient when challenges come your way. Life is not easy and it never will be, but you can do it! You can push through even when you think you can’t! Keep pushing forward and keep trying!Wrap-up
Wrap-up
Thank you for listening to this episode of the Leadership Done Right podcast. You can check out the show notes at LeadershipDoneRight.com/PodcastEpisode67. I will include notes on the topics discussed and related links.
If you enjoyed this episode, please write a review where you listen to this podcast. Also, please tell your friends about it and share it on social media.
Thanks again for listening! My goal is to help you become a great leader, now go be the best leader you can be!
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