athletes

As the world tunes in to the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina from February 6–22, we’ll marvel at skiers flying downhill, skaters carving ice, and athletes who’ve trained for years to make a few minutes look effortless. We know about the grueling workouts—in the gym, on the track, on the snow. What we rarely consider are the thousands of quiet hours in between: how these athletes sit, walk, stand, and recover when they’re not officially training or competing.

If you have been in a field for several decades, you end up taking a long view of trends and guidelines. You see how fashions change. Some things go, some things come back around, and new ideas are the best thing until the next new idea. This cycle of innovation and rediscovery is a hallmark of our society.

Vacation time is in full swing in the northern hemisphere. For many of us, being beachside or poolside gets us yearning for a dip, a splash, and a swim. And I’m guessing that many of us have been mesmerized and inspired by watching the Olympic pool athletes in action.