Having recently celebrated Thanksgiving, I thought I would discuss gratitude in sports. When boys and girls think of pursuing sports, especially at a competitive level, one virtue that they need to have reinforced is gratitude. Of course, we all need to be grateful in every part of our day, and sports is no exception. In fact, having an attitude of gratitude is not only what God deserves from us but it helps athletes perform better. Always remember how many athletes in your sport never get the chance to play at the level that you have been given.

In a recent study of top world class tennis players, one of the most common traits that they possess is gratitude. In the midst of pressure situations a common mantra that top athletes say is “There is nowhere that I would rather be than here”. In fact, having such an attitude can transform a person’s whole outlook on life and can help athletes perform well in competition. It assists athletes to see the pressure as a privilege. Even during training sessions, it is vital to say “I get to go to practice” rather than “I have to go to practice”.

High performance athletes need to understand that it could all end soon. After they retire, some world champions will sometimes lament that the years went by too quickly, and that they did not appreciate and enjoy their time in the sport as much as they should have.

As an athlete, there are many things we should thank God for:

  • Our parents, who usually made huge sacrifices to help provide opportunities for us.
  • Good health, which allows us to develop the physical components required for success.
  • Coaches who helped guide our journey in sports.
  • Resources which allow us to continue at a competitive level, especially when there are exorbitant costs involved.
  • Lessons through setbacks, because even losses can teach us incredible life lessons. Often your biggest setbacks become your biggest blessings.

Here are some thoughts on gratitude from some famous sports figures:

John Wooden

Legendary UCLA basketball coach the late John Wooden once said, “Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man given. Be grateful. Conceit is self given. Be careful.” He further added: “If we magnified blessings as much as we magnify disappointments, we would all be much happier.”

Wooden could have given a master class in teaching athletes virtue, and he was known for demanding virtuous behaviour from his players.

Muhammed Ali

World boxing champion Muhammed Ali once said, “I am grateful for all my victories but I am especially grateful for my losses. They made me work harder.” The struggle ends when gratitude begins.

Lou Gehrig

When he announced his retirement from baseball due to his ALS diagnosis, baseball legend Lou Gehrig said, “I feel that I am the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”

Steph Curry

NBA star Steph Curry said, “Be humble and grateful for all the blessings in your life.”

And here are some thoughts on sports as a gift from God and gratitude from prominent faith figures:

  • “I ask you all to live sport as a gift from God, an opportunity to make good use of your talents but this is also a responsibility. Dear players, I would like especially to call to mind that with your conduct, both on and off the pitch, in life you are a point of reference.” — Pope Francis said in 2013, to the delegations of the national football teams of Argentina and Italy
  • “Remember the past with gratitude, to live the present with enthusiasm and to look forward to the future with confidence: ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.'” — Pope St. John Paul II, in his apostolic letter Novo Millennio Ineunte at the close of the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000
  • “Get used to lifting your heart to God, in acts of thanksgiving, many times a day… Thank him for everything, because he is good.” — St. Josemaría Escrivá, The Way

To sum up how we should look at these virtues in sports, I again turn to John Wooden: “Be more concerned with your character rather than your reputation, because your character is who you really are while your reputation is what others think you are.”

If you are a young or old athlete, I suggest that you journal after each training session and competition. By doing this, you will begin thinking of the blessings you are receiving as they happen in real time.