New Delhi: They say it is lonely at the top. Tell that to an elite athlete and they would not trade that solitude for anything. There is, nonetheless, a shelf life for most things, including motivation. For those who are used to winning, discovering the desire to continue doing so day after day, season after season, particularly after accomplishing everything possible, can be exhausting.

In his autobiography A Shot at History: My Obsessive Journey to Olympic Gold, 2008 Beijing Games gold medallist Abhinav Bindra recounts the emptiness he experienced soon after seizing the 10m air rifle gold to become India’s first individual Olympic champion. At just 25, Bindra was already a world champion and a two-time Olympian. With the world at his command, he felt little incentive to pick up his weapon again.

Swedish tennis legend Bjorn Borg was 26 when he unexpectedly ended his illustrious career, as did Australia’s Ashleigh Barty, who retired as world No. 1 just two months after clinching her third Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open. “I don’t have the physical drive, the emotional want and everything it takes to challenge yourself at the very top level anymore. I am spent,” she stated. In his recent Netflix docuseries, Carlos Alcaraz: My Way, the 21-year-old Spanish four-time Grand Slam champion discusses the strain of pursuing tennis glory.

For Dalilah Muhammad, the 2016 Rio Olympics 400m hurdles champion, motivation stemmed from humility. “There is the temptation to sit back and put your feet up, but somehow I kept finding the desire to keep going,” remarked the 35-year-old, who is currently in India for the World 10K Bengaluru.

After the American secured gold at Rio, Dalilah went on to triumph at the 2019 Doha World Championships, setting a then-world record. By the time the 2021 Tokyo Olympics arrived, she had amassed four world championships medals along with the Rio gold.

“I never forget where I come from. Every time I needed reminding, I thought of my family and coaches who have done so much for me. I just wanted to keep winning

“I think in our sport, we’re always focusing on what’s next. It’s really important to just take that time to enjoy the moment that you’re in and the moment that’s been given to you. You need to enjoy those moments with the people that have got you there. That really kept me go

More recently, two-time Olympic medallist and reigning world champion Neeraj Chopra discussed looking beyond medals while expressing his intention to give back to Indian sports through the NC Classic, an elite javelin event set for Bengaluru on May 24.

“I have won Olympic and other medals for the country. Now with this event, I am giving back something to Indian athletics, to Indian athletes and the fans,” Chopra remarked. Revising one’s benchmarks aids in maintaining the competitive spirit. For Chopra, pursuing the 90m mark stands out as a significant goal, serving as motivation to keep pushing himself.

Earlier this year, badminton star PV Sindhu, a two-time Olympic medallist, expressed that her ambition to secure major medals drives her forward despite experiencing a significant period of poor performance.

“I still possess that passion within me. I am aware that I can achieve it. It's merely a question of time and rhythm. I certainly aim to earn another World Championships medal. I aspire to win All England. I want to achieve success in major tournaments like the World Tour Finals. I have obtained medals in all of them, yet every time I step onto the court, my goal is always to win,” she stated.

Additionally, there is always the aspiration to explore new limits. “Previously, 52 seconds appeared to be unimaginable. And now we have females capable of running 50 seconds in the 400m hurdles. Just surpassing the 52-sec barrier, and even aiming to break 49, has indeed kept my motivation alive,” Dalilah remarked. Her best time is 51. 58 seconds.

In Tokyo, young Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone claimed gold, surpassing Dalilah. The American hurdler set the world record at 50. 37 seconds last August. “You can witness a person who possesses the capacity for greatness. It motivates you to aspire for greatness as well, especially when Sydney emerged in her first year of college, she performed exceptionally and set the collegiate record,” Dalilah mentioned.

“I was aware she would always be a competitor… So, she has undoubtedly propelled me throughout this journey. ”

In her concluding season, Dalilah’s inspirations have taken new directions, and she seeks to be a role model, an ambassador for the sport she has excelled in.

“I wish to serve as a voice for our sport. And I genuinely believe that track and field should attain the prominence of the NFL or NBA. That is the direction our sport needs to take. That’s my inspiration. ”

Read Also: Arya and Prabhsimran Blaze Before Rain Halts IPL Clash at Eden Gardens

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!