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What It Takes to be an Elite Athlete
Going For Gold
Written By Stacy Karten
As you watch the talented international athletes compete in the Summer Olympics in Beijing, China this August, and marvel at their performances, you may wonder what it takes to become an Olympian. How do these athletes maintain the physical attributes that contribute to their elite status?
iNSIDER discussed this topic with Jeremy Alter, a physical therapist and clinical director for the Maryland Sports Care & Rehab in Pikesville and a trainer in the Performance Edge program at Lifebridge Health & Fitness. A graduate of New York University, Alter has worked with high level athletes during his career and was also captain of his high school swim team in Riverdale, N.Y. He moved to Pikesville three years ago and has worked in his profession for nine years.
iNSIDER: What separates an Olympic athlete from those who don’t reach that level?
Alter: I think a lot of it depends on skill and natural talent and ability, but there is also their mental state that takes years and years of hard work, planning, discipline and scheduling. These athletes push their bodies to the limit. They want to be the best of the best. They have incredible concentration, focus and a lot of heart. They are not paid to compete. They represent their countries and get a lot of satisfaction out of personal accomplishments.
How does an Olympian remain at a high level?
The athlete typically works out four to seven days a week for several hours a day. They are working on strength, speed, coordination and balance. Each athlete has his or her own baseline strength and ability level and has their own training program. You don’t want to make swimmers too bulky where it affects their movement, for example.
What other attributes make these athletes different?
What separates these athletes is when they get tired, they keep going. They get that last rep in. They do whatever it takes to get it done. They know their bodies. Their body awareness makes them elite.
What is the most common injury you encounter in your practice?
The most common injury I see is the shoulder. People are not trained well, not conditioned yet, use the wrong level of weight or improper techniques.
How much time should an athlete spend practicing versus working out?
It depends if they are coming back from an injury or not. In the example of a swimmer I might keep him or her out of the water a little more if returning from an injury. I would have the athlete do a couple of hours of sprints in the morning and a couple hours of long distance in the afternoon.
How does a person know if something is physically wrong during a workout?
If something feels weird or off, or you feel a sharpness, stop what you are doing.
What are the biggest changes you have seen in training the past decade?
A lot of older concepts are coming back in terms of training. There is more sport-specific training. It’s about better mechanics, moving better and using power, strength and coordination.
What advice would you give a young athlete aspiring to be an Olympian?
Make sure they have a good support system with parents and coaches. Everyone should be on the same page in terms of what is good for the athlete. They should practice their skill and improve their power, speed, flexibility and coordination.
Elite Athlete Harrison Pierce In a Class by Himself
Harrison Pierce of Owings Mills will watch the Summer Olympics on TV, paying particular attention to the gymnastics competition. After all, Harrison, 14, has
enjoyed success in the sport himself, capturing over 100 medals, trophies and plaques. Currently, he is a level 10 gymnast with the United States Gymnastics
Association, the highest pre-college ranking a gymnast can attain.
“Dedication,” said Harrison, about the variable differentiating athletes who become Olympians. The sophomore at the Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community High School is a terrific example of dedication, too.
Despite fractures in both wrists (from overuse), Harrison still puts his time in at United Gymnastix in Reisterstown. “I will work out 20 hours a week this summer, four hours a day, Monday through Friday. I do everything: floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and high bar,” he explained. His exercise regimen also includes cardio activities. He says that nutrition has not been part of his training and he eats what he wants.
Having started gymnastics at age 6, Harrison says he isn’t sure he wants to continue the sport in college, much less strive for the Olympics. He is also a star away from the gym as he was awarded First Team Academic All-American by the USGA. He carries a 4.3 grade point average.
This year Harrison faced another obstacle, says his mother, Tammy Pierce. “The regionals in April were the same weekend as his brother’s bar mitzvah. Harrison wanted to go to the bar mitzvah. Not going to the regionals also kept him out of the nationals,” she explained.
Like most viewers, Harrison Pierce will critique and grade the gymnasts in Beijing. At the same time, he will be thinking about how he would perform in a similar venue.
