The margin of superiority...

Wonderful weekend for those of us who love to watch ski racing, particularly at the Beaver Creek races in Colorado, where Switzerland's Carlo Janka displayed a stunning package of athletic prowess. It's only days ago that I had written about Didier Cuche's margin of superiority and I wanted to revisit this subject to add a few thoughts. This element, or lack thereof, was evident in watching Bode Miller ski and miraculously recover in the downhill. As often, Bode was on the edge, didn't train much and has no reserve. When an athlete is asked to “pull” incredible recoveries like he did in this race, he strains himself so much that it seeps whatever advantage he still could have.

That margin of superiority takes many faces. It's of course made of natural abilities, training (I'm told Cuche does that 6 hours a day), experience and of course, mental stamina or self-control, not to mention good luck. Seems to me that to make a podium these days, athletes must have that “reserve” filled to the rim, and once more, this apply not just to the tiny sport of skiing, but to all other sporting activities, business endeavor and of course, the running of our personal lives...