SHENZHEN – The wisdom of the Tao imparts many lessons. Here is one: ’You can conquer others with power but it takes trues strength to conquer yourself.’
And where, perhaps, is Lao Tzu’s 2,600-year-old learning more apt than here, in China?
Two weeks ago, in Shanghai, at the 2011 swimming world championships, Hungary’s László Cseh lost his believe in himself. He finished 22nd in the 400-meter individidual medley, an event in which in recent years he typically earned a medal, with the Americans Michael Phelps or Ryan Lochte.
Was it asthma, or humidity, or physical or other problems in Shanghai? Who knows?
It’s history.
What matters is that he kept going.
It must have been tough to get back in the pool and continue the swimmers’ routine after such a disapointing worlds. It must have been tough even to get on the plane and fly back to China, to compete at this Universiade, a much different meet than the worlds. It really required true strength.
Here, Cseh swam in three events: the 200 butterly and the 200 and 400 IMs. He won all three.
Yes, he defeated the others in the pool. But, mostly, he had himself to conquer.
And he did.
(Source: Bence Mohay, FISU-AIPS Young Reporter/Hungary)
