Have you been inspired by others' sporting achievements?

At the start of the fifth and final set last night I just couldn't keep my eyes open.

Andy Murray had just lost the fourth set to Novak Djokovic 6-2 in the US Open final at Flushing Meadow.

It was getting on for 2.30am and it crossed my mind that if the epic first set took 87 minutes then it could be getting on for 4.00am before I slept, if I opted to see (or listen in my case) out the remainder of the match.

I turned my iPhone radio off and started to drift into sleep but all the time my mind wandered as I thought about Murray and the final - would he at lasy taste victory?

At that moment the omens didn't look good.

At two sets up Andy Murray appeared in control but by the start of the fifth and final set last night I just couldn't keep my eyes open.

Andy Murray had just lost the fourth set to Djokovic drew level to two sets all and take the match to the final fifth set, thoughts of the previous five Grand Slam final defeats came flooding back; notably this year's Wimbledon final where Murray had probably come the closest he'd ever done to win a major tennis tournament.

I went to sleep not knowing if Murray had triumphed or stumbled at that final hurdle.

One of the very first things I did this morning was look on BBC news on my iPhone.

Through bleary blurred eyes as I tried to focus on the tiny screen I just made out the headline 'Murray wins historic first major'.

I suddenly felt myself go become lighter. I experienced a sensation that made me feel half my body weight had disappeared. I was elated for Andy Murray but I was also happy for myself and others.

The whole summer of 2012 has been one of epic sporting achievement. From Ernie Els winning the Open, Bradley Wiggins' sensational victory in the Tour de France and of course so many British athletes excelling in this year's Olympics.

There are too many to list entirely but notably Mo Farah, Victoria Pendleton, Chris Hoy, and Nick Skelton are just a few British Olypians who excelled and made the nation so proud this year.

Of course not let's not forget the all of the Paralympics atheletes. Not just those who won a medal but everyone who've overcome disability and adversity, to excel themselves.

I think it's almost impossible not to be given a boost by others' endeavours to be the best.

I've certainly started today feeling buoyed by Andy Murray's achievement earlier this morning and what a contrast and exact reversal to my feelings when the England football team were knocked out of the European Championships earlier in the year, when for the first day or two after our team headed home, every task became a major task and all immediate hope seemed to disappear.

Rather than end this post on a low, how have you been affected by this epic summer of sport? Are you inspired and do you feel as though you can see your immediate path clearer than if there was a negative vibe surrounding you and others.

Or is today just as normal a day as any other?

Having been a mid to long distance runner form the ages of 14 to about 19-20 I was glued to the screen for Mo Farah's races. I was watching the 10k at home with Angela; as he took the lead approaching the final lap we were nervous. VERY nervous. This is the same tactic he used in the World Championships last year when he lost to an unknown (to him and the british public) ethiopian. That's the thing about these championships; you just don't know who is on form on the day.

In any case, he hung on and hung on, no doubt preying on the words of his coach who had instructed him to get to the front and NOT LET ANYBODY PAST. To see him actually pull this off as the men behind him lined up ready to wind up to their sprint finishes, wow, I can't explain. We were both screaming at the telly and there were multiple high-fives when he crossed the line first! The athletes behind him just faded as he turned over another 52-53 second last lap (to put this into perspective when I was racing I couldn't even do a one-off 400m in that time).

The effort a race like this takes is immense. There were men focussing solely on the 5000m the following week, fresh and without 25 laps of hard racing in their legs. Men who have personal bests much faster than Farah (as there were in the 10k).

But we all know how this ended. He did the same and pulled it off. I was in the pub for this one, jumping up and down screaming like a loony.

Mo moved his family to the USA to train. He uprooted his whole life to focus on the work needed to achieve what he has done. I can't even imagine what that would be like. He knew, with Salazar and Rupp and the facilities that they had in the camp, that he needed to be totally immersed (like the liquid nitrogen gas ice baths he goes for after training) in the sport to fulfill his potential.

I find his story amazing, I get tears in my eyes when I go back to watching those two races. He digs deeper, in my opinion, than any tour or track cyclist (although it's a short effort compared to 3 weeks and 2000 miles!).

On another note, watching the Olympic MTB racing made me remember how much I love it and I have been back on the mountain bike full throttle since then. I have skills sessions booked (jumps and drops) and am going back to basics to ensure I can get the most out of it and enjoy it without any of the paraphernalia that often accompanies the sport.

2012 has been the best sporting year I have ever experienced; I hope the british public take some of it on board and we can put an end to the fat-kid country that we have become.

Replies

Ian Olpin September 11, 2012 at 8:54am

Loved and participated in sport all my life. I feel the emotions you describe, Phil, though not quite so powerfully for Murray for some reason. Maybe I expected him to win, maybe just been spoilt with it all this summer.

For me the paralympics were gripping, never paid much attention to it before. The sheer unrestrained, unbridled joy of the athletes (especially the cerebral palsy sportsmen and women) before and after a race is something I'll never forget. No hint of cynicism, cheating or attitude, just dedicated people taking huge pleasure in their sport and their achievements. Brilliant stuff.

Loved the words of Seb Coe too at the closing ceremony, had it in nutshell, and fitting it came from one of the most dedicated and successful athletes our country has ever produced. Now forgiven his sulking after being beaten by Ovett!!

All I hope is that people like Rooney and Pietersen, those with a god-given talent, watched it all too and now appreciate what can really be achieved with dedication and a touch of humility to add to that natural talent.
Dan Frazer Gardening September 11, 2012 at 3:37pm

Having been a mid to long distance runner form the ages of 14 to about 19-20 I was glued to the screen for Mo Farah's races. I was watching the 10k at home with Angela; as he took the lead approaching the final lap we were nervous. VERY nervous. This is the same tactic he used in the World Championships last year when he lost to an unknown (to him and the british public) ethiopian. That's the thing about these championships; you just don't know who is on form on the day.

In any case, he hung on and hung on, no doubt preying on the words of his coach who had instructed him to get to the front and NOT LET ANYBODY PAST. To see him actually pull this off as the men behind him lined up ready to wind up to their sprint finishes, wow, I can't explain. We were both screaming at the telly and there were multiple high-fives when he crossed the line first! The athletes behind him just faded as he turned over another 52-53 second last lap (to put this into perspective when I was racing I couldn't even do a one-off 400m in that time).

The effort a race like this takes is immense. There were men focussing solely on the 5000m the following week, fresh and without 25 laps of hard racing in their legs. Men who have personal bests much faster than Farah (as there were in the 10k).

But we all know how this ended. He did the same and pulled it off. I was in the pub for this one, jumping up and down screaming like a loony.

Mo moved his family to the USA to train. He uprooted his whole life to focus on the work needed to achieve what he has done. I can't even imagine what that would be like. He knew, with Salazar and Rupp and the facilities that they had in the camp, that he needed to be totally immersed (like the liquid nitrogen gas ice baths he goes for after training) in the sport to fulfill his potential.

I find his story amazing, I get tears in my eyes when I go back to watching those two races. He digs deeper, in my opinion, than any tour or track cyclist (although it's a short effort compared to 3 weeks and 2000 miles!).

On another note, watching the Olympic MTB racing made me remember how much I love it and I have been back on the mountain bike full throttle since then. I have skills sessions booked (jumps and drops) and am going back to basics to ensure I can get the most out of it and enjoy it without any of the paraphernalia that often accompanies the sport.

2012 has been the best sporting year I have ever experienced; I hope the british public take some of it on board and we can put an end to the fat-kid country that we have become.
T & S Plants September 12, 2012 at 8:07pm

With the Olympics it is brilliant to see how sport in the UK has moved on.

With the events of today however, they show how sport and fans were treated through the dark days of UK sport in the 1980's & '90's

96 football fans went to support their team, and never came home.

The Police and others lied, whilst watching on as football supportors died!

For the last 23 years the families have claimed that they were right. For the last 23 years they have been told that they are wrong. Today, they were proved right.

The horrific facts that have been revealed today bring shame upon our nation.

Now that the truth is out, for one of the biggest cover-ups in the history of our nation has now been exposed, we move forwards.

Justice for the 96.

YNWA