10 Steps to a "Job" as an Olympic Athlete

by John Bickar
FabJob Inc. publishes books, e-books, and CD-ROMs that can help you break into a "fab" job. Visit www.FabJob.com for information and career advice.

You may not have made it to the 2000 Summer Olympics, but it may surprise you to know that if you start preparing soon, you could be among the athletes competing in the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Don’t assume you’re too old or out of shape to make your dream come true. The oldest Olympic medallist was 72!

Here are 10 steps you can take towards living your dream of becoming an Olympic Athlete, based on the Guide to Become an Olympic Athlete.

1. Assess your physical condition

The first step is to determine what shape you are currently in. This will help you to select the best sport for you, as well as the training program you will need to follow. 

If you are 35 years old and your favorite activity is sitting on the couch with a six pack and a bag of chips, you probably aren’t cut out to become an Olympic gymnast. However, if you are willing to make a few lifestyle changes, there are a number of sports you could successfully compete in. You can get an assessment of your current level of fitness by visiting a local gym and consulting with one of the trainers.

2. Choose a sport

Many athletes select a sport based on what they enjoy doing and what they are good at. If you already have an athletic hobby, such as target shooting or judo, you are already one step ahead. 

If you are an older athlete, you are more likely to achieve success in a sport that focuses on “mental” rather than purely “physical” strength. Some examples of mental sports include: archery, canoe/kayak, equestrian, fencing, sailing, shooting, and table tennis.

3. Find a place to train

Once you decide which sport to pursue, you need to start developing your skills. Join a local athletic club or visit a recreation center so you can practice and take classes. Another good place to train, depending on your sport, is your local high school or university.

4. Join your National Governing Body

A crucial step that will get you to the next level is to join your National Governing Body (NGB). The NGB conducts National Championships, maintains a National Team, and often supports various developmental programs for athletes. You can find the website for your NGB by going to http://www.usolympicteam.com. 

5. Start competing

If you haven’t already started competing at the club stage, now is the time to do it. Your NGB hosts a variety of tournaments that start on the local level.  It is important in many sports to build a national rating by competing at certain competitions. Your NGB will be able to tell you when and where you should be competing.

6. Get a coach

This step should be taken at the same time as you start competing. A coach can help you develop your skills, so you can progress to the next level of your sport. A good place to start looking for a coach is your local training facility. The people who teach classes at the facility can recommend someone to coach you, or they may be able to coach you themselves.

7. Visualize your success

A training technique used by top athletes is visualization. According to one theory, if you see a perfect golf swing 1,000 times in your mind, it’s better practice than actually swinging the golf club 10,000 times. 

If you're a diver, you can play out the entire sequence of a perfect dive in your mind. Imagine yourself climbing up the ladder, taking each step toward the end of the platform, launching yourself in the air, performing each flip and twist perfectly, and entering the water without a splash.  Then see yourself coming out of the water to a roaring crowd, toweling off, flashbulbs popping. The more detail you can add to your visualizations – including imagining any sounds, smells, and physical sensations – the better your visualizations will prepare you to achieve the result you want.

8. Find financing

At some point you may be ready to start training full-time, which means you will have to find a way to support yourself financially.  Elite level athletes have several options including: attend college on an athletic scholarship, become a resident athlete at an Olympic Training Center, or obtain corporate sponsorships. Your NGB can give you information about becoming a resident athlete. 

You may be able to obtain corporate sponsorships through your employer, by contacting the marketing department of other companies, or by having a sports marketing agency contact companies for you. 

9. Attend the national championships

Most NGBs run their National Championships in a similar format to the Olympic Games so it will be good practice for you.  Often, the National Team coach is present at the National Championships, and will be able to tell you what you need to do to make the Olympic Team in your sport. 

Many individual sports open their National Championships to any competitor who has achieved some minimum qualification at the local or regional level so you may have a better chance of competing than you think. 

10. Qualify for the Olympics

Each sport has a different process for qualifying for the national Olympic Team. Athletes in team sports (such as basketball or soccer) tend to be chosen by the national coaching squad via their national reputation, national ranking or through results at previous competitions. Some team sports also have an Olympic tryout. 

Athletes in individual sports (such as track and field or tennis) compete for a spot on the Olympic Team through qualifying tournaments or their national rankings.

Once you make it to the Olympics, you have achieved the dream of a lifetime – enjoy the experience and go for the gold! 

FabJob Inc. publishes books, e-books, and CD-ROMs that can help you break into a "fab" job. Visit www.FabJob.com for information and career advice.