Life Imitating Literature
Last night watching the USA Olympic men’s gymnastics team compete in London like so many homes around the world, I was especially struck by the story of USA team member, John Orozoco. As the camera panned back and fourth between his anxious mother and this nineteen-year-old gymnast about to mount the pommel horse, the NBC commentator told Orozoco’s emotional and inspiring story toward Olympic superstardom. Hearing of his family’s struggle to support his passion financially and his rise from injury two years ago, my mind immediately went back to Carol Karm’s review of Rebounders: How Winners Pivot From Setback to Success by Rick Newman in the latest issue of Westlake Magazine, the Summer Youth & Sports Issue, which features future and former Olympic athletes. Rick Newman’s new book tells the rags-to-riches, failure-to-feat life stories of some of America’s most notable successes, whether it be in business, the arts, politics or sports. In Rebounders, Newman identifies and explains the nine traits key to creating your own achievement after experiencing disappointment. Now realizing his Olympic dream, John Orozoco certainly took disappointment as a motivation toward success, just as Newman teaches.
-Bailee Ahern
