Beyond the Medals 🏅

Welcome to the 133^rd edition of “In Touch”. As always, I would love to continue the conversation so please hit reply and let me know what you think.

Story of the Week: “Beyond the Medals 🏅”

Two weeks ago I found myself at the Four Seasons Hotel in Limassol as a guest of Pavlos Kontides, the world champion sailor and two-time Olympic silver medallist who has represented Cyprus at five Olympic Games. The ballroom was full but the evening was not about him. It was a fundraiser to help athletes who have the ability to reach the Olympics and Paralympics yet often lack the financial support to even begin.

When he addressed the room, Pavlos said something simple. He had been fortunate because his family was in a position to financially support his efforts from a very young age. Not every athlete has that start, which is why he organises this evening each year – to give others the chance he once had.

I had offered a keynote address, which came up for auction and I was invited on stage to help “sell” it. I said that I was not there to sell anything. For so long, every four years, I had been cheering him as he went for gold. Gold meant the best rankings, the fastest times and finishing first. But standing there, I realised something else. Going for gold is not always about coming first. Sometimes it is about having a heart of gold. That, I understood, is who Pavlos Kontides is.

He was auctioning some of his most personal items, including the iconic Cyprus flag that he had held when he won his first Olympic silver medal in London – not to relive a victory but to create a beginning for another athlete.

I left with a quiet realisation. Success eventually asks you to go beyond yourself… beyond performance, beyond pride, beyond income. Some achievements stay with you. Others allow someone else to start.

Words of Wisdom

“A candle loses nothing of its light when lighting another.” Kahlil Gibran

A Question and a Thought to Ponder, dear friend.

Somewhere along the way, someone opened a door for you — a recommendation, an introduction, a bit of time, a bit of belief.

We often call it luck.
Was it… or was it simply someone deciding to give?