Carl Lewis: ‘Stay focused because you’re going to get through this’
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
March 3, 2021 at 07:20 JST
Share
Tweetlist
Print
Carl Lewis advises young athletes who are struggling during the novel coronavirus pandemic to stay focused and trust in their coaches and mentors. The decorated Olympian takes questions from former rugby player Toshiaki Hirose and former track star Dai Tamesue during an online roundtable discussion on Jan. 15. (The Asahi Shimbun)
Carl Lewis, now a track and field coach at his alma mater, the University of Houston, says the Olympics are very special to him and he is looking forward to the 2020 Tokyo Games. (Kazuhiro Nagashima)
Decorated Olympian Carl Lewis knows a thing or two about overcoming obstacles and working through difficult times, wisdom that he is now passing on to the next generation of track stars.
Lewis, 59, now an assistant coach at the track and field program at the University of Houston, his alma mater, said athletes should focus on themselves and forget the things they cannot control during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.
The former sprint and long jump gold medalist took questions from Dai Tamesue, 42, a three-time Olympian and former track star, and Toshiaki Hirose, 39, a retired rugby player who captained the Japanese national team under Eddie Jones, at an online roundtable discussion in January.
Lewis shared ways to cope with stress and offered encouragement to young athletes in Japan. In these challenging times, working on their weaknesses and trusting coaches and mentors will help them persevere through and make them even stronger, he said.
Excerpts of the discussion follow:
Toshiaki Hirose co-heads Don't Stop Sports, a general incorporated association. He retired from rugby in 2016 with 28 caps, after playing for the Toshiba Brave Lupus and serving as captain of the Japan Rugby Union under Eddie Jones. Hirose says the discussion with Carl Lewis was inspiring for stressing keeping a positive attitude and focusing on the basics. (Kazuhiro Nagashima)
Hirose: Since I retired from playing professional rugby, I have worked on projects that support athletes finding a second career and help student-athletes to develop their leadership skills.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I have launched another project called “Never Stop Playing Sports,” which seeks to help student-athletes stay motivated and ease their transition to the next stage in life. For instance, student-athletes can post a video on social media that highlights their competitions so that recruiters can see them. I embrace digital technology because it is difficult to have a face-to-face meeting right now.
I want people who are dedicated to sports to also do well in society, and I want to help build such an environment. I want to value support that goes beyond the bounds of all types of sports.
Lewis: I think it is wonderful. As you know, I teach and coach at the University of Houston right now. And it has been a challenge for everyone--athletes and students everywhere. So I think it is wonderful that you are finding a way to keep them inspired to continue on.
It is really difficult. Here at the university level, they are losing years. High school kids are losing their seasons. It has been a big challenge worldwide. It is just really wonderful to see that you are putting out something that can help make that transition a little bit easier.
Tamesue: I have been involved with an organization called Athlete Society, promoting sports in Asian countries and building a system for the development of athletes. Currently, we have a partnership in Bhutan, Nepal, Laos, Sri Lanka and Cambodia.
I want to ask you, if you were an active athlete right now during the pandemic, where would you direct your attention?
Lewis: Working at the University of Houston, I am constantly dealing with the challenges that we have with the athletes. But the biggest thing is that we have a new challenge and we take it on.
What I have told them is, “Since you are not able to compete and to travel and do these things, focus on some of the things you need to do to make yourself better.”
So they went on. If they needed to work on their starts, they worked on that. They worked on their running and all these different things that I taught them that they could do on their own.
What do you think is the worst thing (about your skills)? If you are a basketball player, you can work on your free throws. Work on something that you can make you better. You have to work on yourself.
You can’t worry about things that you can’t control. It is frustrating, but focus on yourself for a time, and be ready when the time comes back.
RETURN TO THE BASICS
Tamesue: I am trying to find ways in which retired athletes can do something for athletes who are actively competing right now. What do you think is the best encouragement that former athletes can offer?
Lewis: For young athletes, I have always tried to tell them to focus on the basics. They do not change. Hard work, getting your rest and guided nutrition--those are the things you can easily control.
And once you find a coach--someone that you trust in, listen to them. Believe them. Because they are there to help you.
Carl Lewis, second from left, breaks the world record in the 100-meter sprint with a time of 9.86 seconds at the track and field world championships in 1991. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
Those are some of the things I try to tell young athletes. It’s not rocket science. It’s nothing new. The basics will always be here. Listen to your coach and get information. Now, with the internet, you can go online and find all different things.
But the biggest thing is, take the time, the extra time, to work on your craft. And then, when you have the information, share it and use the internet so everyone can benefit.
FIND MOTIVATION WITHIN
Hirose: I agree that the basics are important. But for young athletes, it is extremely difficult to continue to give their all when the future is uncertain. How do you keep them highly motivated?
Lewis: As an athlete, you are always going to deal with challenges. When I talk about the basics, that means that maybe you can’t get together with the team, so you may go to a stadium and run the steps, or you may go by yourself for a bike ride. Things like that.
Ultimately, an athlete has to find motivation from the inside. We--as coaches, mentors and family--are there to inspire. And how we can do it is, maybe, we share that time with them.
I always communicate to parents, “If you want your kids to get started in sports, just buy them a bicycle and go riding with them.” Or, buy a basketball and say, “Let’s go play.” Or, go for a walk together.
It encompasses a family. You can get family and friends and people together to do this kind of things. It does not always have to be specifically about the sport. It is just about moving and doing new things that keep yourself motivated to do it when the sport comes back.
STAY FOCUSED
Dai Tamesue grew up idolizing Carl Lewis since he saw the 100-meter race in Tokyo in 1991 that Lewis won in a world record time of 9.86 seconds. Tamesue, a Japanese record holder in the 400-meter hurdles who competed in three consecutive Olympics, says he learned from Lewis that it is important to do even simple things with a high level of accuracy. (Kazuhiro Nagashima)
Tamesue: I always remember how focused you were when you were in a competition. Nowadays, with social media, we can get a lot of information that is out there. And when we are uncertain what information is correct, it is difficult to shut out all the information and just focus on ourselves. Do you have any advice for athletes today on how to focus on a competition?
Lewis: That is so correct. There is so much information with social media. And I think that is a detriment.
You have to stay focused on what you know. Your job is to find someone (like coaches and mentors) that you trust in and believe in. That is where your information is. And challenge them to answer questions that you are not sure about.
Tamesue: Lastly, please send a message to athletes in Japan.
Lewis: First of all, I love Japan, and I look forward to seeing all of you at the Olympic Games. The Olympic Games are so special to me. So I look forward to that.
My biggest message for all of the young people is, "You are going to look back on this time in your life, how difficult it was and all the challenges that you had. And you will realize that you made it, you got through it.
Keep motivated. Stay focused. This won’t be forever. When it is over, you are going to realize, 'If I can manage that, I can manage any competition. I can manage any event and any challenge in life.'”
Because this is the biggest challenge we are all going to deal with in our lifetimes. And guess what? You are going to get through it. So, stay focused. It’s going to get better. It needs to get better. And in the end, you are going to be a better athlete and a better person.
(This article was written by Shuhei Nomura and Masaki Kono.)
Related News
Olympics will be held with fans in stands, says Hashimoto
February 27, 2021
SUMO/ Foreigners wrestle with having to become Japanese citizens
February 24, 2021
Share
Tweetlist
Print
Trending Now
Last 24 hours Last 7 days
OLYMPICS/ Miura and Kihara: A twist of fate forges Olympic gold
Anti-foreigner views exacerbated by everyday woes and social media lies
Man accused of making and selling porn of 15-year-old girl
Japan moves for the first time to criminalize paying for sex
Kawazu-zakura trees now in full bloom across Izu Peninsula town
OLYMPICS/ Figure Skating-Japan’s Miura and Kihara slip to fifth after lift error, eye comeback in free skate
French sex abuse expert shocked by girls in red-light district
17-year-old killed, 2 injured in fatal stabbing near Glico man
3 universities allowed to hike foreign students enrollment caps
Over 10,000 visit Kyoto temple's lantern event during first week
Man accused of making and selling porn of 15-year-old girl
OLYMPICS/ Miura and Kihara: A twist of fate forges Olympic gold
Anti-foreigner views exacerbated by everyday woes and social media lies
Japan moves for the first time to criminalize paying for sex
Kawazu-zakura trees now in full bloom across Izu Peninsula town
French sex abuse expert shocked by girls in red-light district
Teacher, students team to improve English learning in high school
Suspect in 1999 stabbing death voices sympathy for the victim
Sakura forecast to start blooming in Tokyo first from March 21
New Enoshima Electric train to roll in crowded Kamakura
Videos
Volunteers revive Minami-Boso's flower fields to former glory
February 17, 2026
Kawazu-zakura trees now in full bloom across Izu Peninsula town
February 16, 2026
Village deploys high-tech drone to scare off bears in Fukushima
February 16, 2026
Recommended
YOASOBI
A peek through the music industry’s curtain at the producers who harnessed social media to help their idols go global.
Diplomatic Documents
A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry
Memories of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors.
Taste of Life
Cooking experts, chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life.
Memories of Nikkei Americans
A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II
Asahi Shimbun on Twitter
Learning English
Asahi Weekly
In-house News and Messages
Link
The New York Times
BACK TO TOP
About Us
Site Policy
Privacy
Copyright
Contact Us
Transmission of user information to external service providers（利用者情報の外部送信）
Some articles on this website may contain content generated by artificial intelligence programs.
Carl Lewis, now a track and field coach at his alma mater, the University of Houston, says the Olympics are very special to him and he is looking forward to the 2020 Tokyo Games. (Kazuhiro Nagashima) 
