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Step 1
Pick a sport. You have two paths--go with a sport you know and like, or pick an obscure one. A familiar sport may seem like an obvious choice, but think carefully--popular sports have millions of dedicated participants, and competition is stiff. Less wellknown options, such as short-track speed skating, luge, bobsledding and pentathlon, have fewer competitors.
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Step 2
Evaluate your physique and choose a sport that suits it. No matter how dedicated you are, unless you have the physical makeup for extreme endurance, you'll never be an Olympic marathoner. And if you're tall and over the age of 16, kiss gymnastics goodbye. Consult a sports physiologist to establish your specific attributes.
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Step 3
Spend years and years working at your sport. Develop all aspects of fitness, strength and endurance. Incorporate crosstraining into your regime to prevent boredom and injury.
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Step 4
Believe in yourself. Have your mental game ready, be tough in every aspect, refuse to give up.
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Step 5
Attend a sports academy. These schools provide intensive training in the sport of your choice at the high-school level. The experience, exposure and coaching that you get will qualify you for a college that excels in your sport.
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Step 6
Work with excellent coaches to develop your skills. Hire a sports psychologist to help you set and reach goals. Hire a private coach if needed. See 16 Set Goals.
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Step 7
Make the national team in your sport and train year-round (there is no off-season for an Olympian). Be able to perform well under incredible pressure and fend off all other competitors until you make the Olympic team.
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Step 8
Change your citizenship. It may be much easier to qualify for a spot on the Pakistani sailing team than on the U.S. team. Some countries ask for proof of ancestry, such as a grandparent born in the country.
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Comments
LS01 said
on 8/17/2008 Very thorough article. Nice job.
DiscountTickets said
on 8/16/2008 This is so true, they must really spend many hours training for this special day, and such a great feeling too.
Haoie said
on 8/15/2008 Easier written up than done, of course.
BoardingSchool4 said
on 8/15/2008 i gotta know who that first kid is.
poofysheep said
on 8/15/2008 Changing citizenship? That's not very good advice. If you have to pretend you're from a country you're not just to have a chance at the gold, then you don't deserve it. The Olympics are about competing for yourself and your country, not about crossing over just to make things easier.