Sifan Hassan is one of the best distance runners in our generation.
She holds the world record for the mile run and has multiple world titles under her belt.
She became the only athlete ever to medal in the 1500, 5000, and 10000 metre events at the same Olympic Games in Tokyo.
I don’t know what her lungs are made of.
But she is obviously a very talented and hardworking athlete.
For anyone who ever ran on a track before, you know how hard it can be when you are pushing your limits, gasping for air, lactic acid building up in your muscles and you are going all out.
During one of the heats for the 1500m race at Tokyo, she tripped and fell with 350m to go.
Every other competitor was already turning on their turbo and going at 100% to the finish line.
For 99% of athletes, tripping and falling during a race is basically a game-ender.
You have lost precious seconds.
You are disorientated.
You are probably hurt from the fall.
It is discombobulating and everything is in a flurry.
99% of people would just stay down.
Some would get up, if they are not too hurt, and try to get to the finish line.
Not for Sifan.
She was the living embodiment of Captain Marvel.
She fell, composed herself quickly and immediately got back up, racing double as hard.
What happens next is something out of a Hollywood film.
She accelerates harder than ever before.
In fact, she was so much faster, the rest of the runners ahead seemingly slows down as she kept up the chase.
She chased and chased, which each step, closer and closer.
Then past the end of the pack, into the middle, then after the turn, she was neck to neck with the front runners.
It may be a heat but she was on pure fire.
She never gave up and won first place.
Still gives me the chills watching it: https://youtu.be/Ah2M6f6iqKc
It was truly incredible to witness the human spirit at such a high level of grit and determination.
Getting back up is what matters.
Sometimes in our lives, we will fall, we will meet obstacles that seem too hard to overcome.
Quarrels between co-founders.
Vendors delaying projects.
Counterparts moving too slowly.
Customers giving you bad reviews.
Employee disagreements.
There will always be stuff that brings us down.
We need to build fortitude.
To withstand the beatings.
To deal with our emotions.
To collect ourselves and come back stronger.
Let this be a lesson to not give up, no matter what.
Because getting back up is what matters.
Stay strong people.
Or eat some ice cream.
It always helps.
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