It's raining, it's cold, it's dark, you're in pain and you don't want to be there, but it's how you deal with those difficult moments that really counts, Olympian Bruce Kendall says.
Kendall, a bronze and gold medal-winning Olympian boardsailor, shared his thoughts and feelings with King's High School junior school pupils yesterday about his years as a competitive athlete and as a coach.
Winning did not happen when the athlete crossed the finish line, he said.
"Winning happens early in the morning or late at night when you're training by yourself."
When boredom, frustration and pain hit, setting small goals helped you keep going, Kendall said.
It was not all bad, as some of his best moments came during an Olympic campaign.
"It's that moment you are burning along, in and out of surf, with the dolphins, sharks and coral reefs and you're flying along - at that moment I was completely happy."
Some believed in winning at all costs, although they were often the ones who "went over to the dark side" of cheating and drugs.
While "the gloves might be off on the water" it was important to be "mates" on dry land, he said.
"It's the decisions you make today that will be remembered by the people around you."
He told the pupils the best message was to find the thing they were best at and "go hard".
"Do your best - crazy stuff happens."
As coach of the Hong Kong board-sailing team, Kendall appreciated the simple things about living in New Zealand.
Out on the coach boat in the ocean off Hong Kong, he could only see 1m to 2m in front because of the pollution, which he could feel in his mouth and nose, he said.
Kendall was guest speaker at the Otago Sportsperson of the Year awards last night.
