If you look at any superior athlete, you will find a strong parental influence. Parents introduce their children to a sport, and then they support them.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
Support the athlete, encourage the team, help the coach. That's what good track parents do.
Both parents supported my becoming a world class athlete.
I think when you are the parents of a gifted athlete, the best thing in the world you can do is to encourage them, in my opinion. My dad didn't push me and I didn't push my children in athletics.
A little-known secret is that being a pro athlete is not that great. It's a pretty short lifespan. I know all these parents are out there driving their children to be professionals, but so many pros will tell you, 'No, you don't want to do this.'
My overwhelming concern will always be the well-being of the athletes. In Olympic sport, it is rare for competitors not to devote half their young life to this. Their families will have given up all sorts of things to allow them to do that.
You know raising a family in the lifestyle of a professional athlete can be very difficult.
Most of my family are good athletes.
Ask me what makes a champion runner, and I will tell you it helps to have the great good sense to choose your parents carefully.
Athletes know kids look up to them, and it's important for athletes to be responsible.
I can tell you, I grew up with great coaching, and it had nothing to do with sports. I had great parents. I really got some great input from there. They were entrepreneurial, middle-class business people.
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