At the Olympics, it's not just the athletes who make history—it's the audience's focused energy that sparks something truly remarkable. Here's my 3 keys on what I learned following the Paris summer olympics.
For nine days I traversed the Parisian landscape for watching, cheers, and attending Olympic events.
I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I knew a few things for certain.
- I loved Paris
- I loved being an athlete and cheering on the best in class for those who aim to be the best
- I had a place to stay with a dear friend who graciously took me in for some couch surfing
Whether it was trying to figure out the mechanics of Taekwondo under the Grand Palais canopy, or waiting for the cyclists to careen down Avenue St. Michel, I was buzzing with energy - my aliveness. Sometimes strong, sometimes subtle. I cried, I cheered, and I left knowing not everyone wins, and that defeat may lead to more determination for next time, or the final curtain call.
Here we were, millions of spectators in a city that had over-delivered. The energy felt generative and massive. On the final day I cheered on the women’s marathon and watched Fisan Hassan take the lead in the final minute after 26.1 miles of staying behind the Kenyan leaders. In the final turn, she kicked in another gear and won by several seconds. She had gotten the bronze earlier that week in not 1 but 2 other races: the 5k and 10k – unprecedented first.
So, what happens to all this energy once the games end?
Recall Einstein’s Law of Conservation of Energy:
“Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be changed from one form to another."
I take this to mean that energy doesn’t just ‘disappear’, but instead it transforms itself into other forms.
During the closing ceremonies, and idea struck me: what if we leveraged the games to allow all those watching – in person or tuned in around the world, to direct our attention and conscious thought to where it’s most needed?
I started thinking. What if every day there was two minutes of silence that could focus on attention towards one thing and also ground us all? Feelings of care or kindness, whole-heartedness, and peace that comes from each of us could be directed to those that need it most. This is the kind of intentional pause I’d like to see - and totally happen – for the next Olympics, or for any day.
If we put together what Olympians have done to be the best, along with Einstein’s Law of Conservation of Energy, there are three key lessons I am called to share from this year’s Games.
3 Key lessons:
1. Think of your career like an athlete: to reach your potential, it requires not just peak performance days, but also pausing – aka rest and/or recovery.
· To show up at our best, we need a few things: a training plan, nourishment (including emotional and mental support), and scheduled recovery time – otherwise it just doesn’t happen as a high achiever. This scheduled rest is critical so you can go for the gold when you need to.
2. Where your attention goes your energy flows.
· The Olympics had 206 countries involved and sold 9.5M tickets.
That’s a lot of attention! Clearly was great enthusiasm for the games (95% approval ratings from attendees). When we choose to focus on what brings us joy, our energy flows to bring more positivity and joy to us. Like attracts like, and the Olympics demonstrated, inspiration and more joy follow and is amplified.
3. You can re-direct your energy at any time.
I don’t know any other platform or time where we have so much attention from millions of people worldwide focus together for positive intent and supporting others to do their best. With a greater intention we can use these games as IOC president Thomas Bach said in the closing ceremonies:
“Thank you for making us believe in a better world for everyone. We know that the Olympic Games cannot create peace. But the Olympic Games can create a culture of peace that inspires the world. This is why I call on everyone who shares this Olympic spirit: let us live this culture of peace every single day.”
What if we set the standard for 2026 to spend two minutes, heck even one minute each day to focus on sending peace, healing, or health to anyone, anywhere that’s needed?
What do we have to lose?
I walk away from the Paris Olympics with the gift they gave millions who tuned in to attend or watch: the faith that humanity is capable for so much excellence. From the competing athlete striving for gold, or the armchair-quarterback who is excited to should at the TV. This is the power and potential for the future Olympic spectating. The athletes can keep doing their thing, and now we can do ours in a way that will serve the entire world.
That, is the power of pausing together for the Olympics.
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