The leader of USA
Track & Field put out a statement that the popular press quickly latched
onto that we would shoot to win 30 medals in 2012. When I saw
it my immediate response was here we go again, a classic example of hope
disguised as a plan. How naïve can you be. Each year track and field and other
sports in this country move farther and farther away from any concept or idea
of long term planning and development. We fail to recognize that statements
like that are not reflective of a plan, it is wishing and hoping. Development takes
time and a huge human investment, the time and investment that we historically
have been unwilling to make. If he were a truly enlightened leader he would
stand up and present a detailed long term plan preparing for 2016 and beyond.
The 2016 Olympians are 12 years old right now. Take look at the twelve year olds
out there. They are fat, lazy and unfit, we need to do something about that. To paraphrase
my good friend Kelvin Giles, we must do everything possible to eradicate all
physical deficiencies at the development level in order to give us a chance to
win medals. What are we doing to systematically identify, track, select and
prepare our prized resource the youth? 2012 will take of itself. Think big
picture and long term. Change the paradigm to tap into this incredible talent
base. Get the youth fit and physically literate and the medals will come in
droves.
