Embracing Challenges: The Bonnie St. John Story

Who here likes a good challenge? Challenges are an inevitable part of life. As long as you are alive and have breath in your lungs, you will face challenges. The real question is: What will you do when they arise?

An Inspirational Journey

I recently watched an interview with Bonnie St. John, the first African American woman to win a Paralympic medal at the Winter Games in 1984. Her story is nothing short of inspirational. At the tender age of five, she had her right leg amputated below the knee. Raised by a single mom, she faced many obstacles, yet she never stopped dreaming. At 15, a friend invited her on a ski trip, and she fell in love with alpine skiing. Despite not having money, a coach, or even living near the mountains, she pursued her passion.

Bonnie’s journey was not easy. Five years after she set her mind to it, she was selected for the United States ski team. Ranked 3rd among one-legged women in America, she barely made the team. She travelled to Austria to compete. Her first race was the slalom race and she nailed her first run, ranking number 1 in the world. But winning a medal required two runs; the next course was a new challenge. As she waited for her turn, she heard about a dangerous spot where many were falling and thought, “I just have to stand and finish the race. I shouldn’t fall.”

The Power of Resilience

However, as she neared the finish line, she hit the ice and fell. She remembers feeling sorry for herself for a moment but quickly picked herself up and finished the race. Miraculously, all the top competitors also fell, and Bonnie’s fall didn’t affect her ranking much. She won the silver medal.

What stood out to me was what Bonnie said next: “The woman who won the gold medal was not a better skier than me. The woman who won the gold didn’t win gold because she didn’t fall. She fell too. But what made her the gold medalist was that when she fell, she was quick to get up. I was a better skier, but she was better at getting up. It wasn’t about who was the fastest, but who could get up the quickest after a fall.”

Think about it. There are countless variables in winning. We often look at others who seem to be moving faster and think, “I can never do that. I’m just not fast enough.” But winning isn’t just about speed. Winning means getting up faster. If speed were the only factor, Bonnie St. John would have won the gold. But the gold medalist had an edge because she could get up faster. It’s not about who never falls; it’s about who gets up the fastest.

Your Next Step

To rise faster, you need the right attitude. You can’t fall and think, “Poor me… This always happens when I try. I’m almost about to win, but then I fall.” The more you feel sorry for yourself, the more you lose your winning edge. So, what about you? Are you feeling sorry for yourself, thinking you lost the race because you fell? Take a moment to reflect. How can you shift your mindset to focus on getting up faster instead of dwelling on the fall?

Vince Lombardi once said, “It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.” I’m looking at the smart people reading this. I know you’ve been knocked down, and I know you’ve gotten up. But I’m here to encourage you to get up faster. People fall down; winners get up, but gold medal winners get up the fastest.

Call to Action:

Take a moment to reflect on the last time you faced a challenge. Did you bounce back quickly, or did you dwell on the setback? Share your experiences in the comments below and tell us how you plan to “get up faster” the next time life knocks you down. Let’s inspire and support each other in embracing challenges with resilience and determination.