Ed Gibbins

Michael Phelps – Rewire Hero of the Week

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“If you want to be the best, you have to do things that other people aren’t willing to do.”

Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps was born in Baltimore in 1985. At a young age Phelps was diagnosed with ADHD, one of his teachers even told him “[he] would never amount to anything and [he] would never be successful.”

That same person went on to be the most successful and decorated Olympian of all time! Phelps has won a total of 28 medals, including 23 golds. At the 2008 Olympics alone, Phelps won 8 gold medals breaking a record that had stood since 1972. In fact, Phelps has been the most successful athlete of the Olympic Games at every Olympics since Athens 2004. On top of this Phelps has set 39 world records (29 individual, 10 relay). Pretty good for a guy that was told that he would never amount to anything!

Phelps has been able to channel his energy into his passion, swimming, exploiting the positive side of ADHD. He serves as an inspiration for those with ADHD and shows us all that anything is possible, regardless of the cards that you have been dealt.

Phelps has used visualization since he was a young child. Bob Bowman, Phelps’s long-time coach, notes that “By the time Michael gets up on the blocks to swim in the World Championships or Olympics, he’s swum that race hundreds of times in his mind.” Phelps is reportedly one of the best at visualization and his use of it serves as a reminder of the importance of mental training in performance.

Recently, Phelps opened up about his struggles with depression. He shared that after every Olympics he fell into a deep state of depression, even contemplating suicide after the 2012 London Olympics. Now, Phelps understands and shares that “it’s OK to not be OK” and to improve our state of mind we need to open up about our feelings. 

Phelps shows us that no human is limited and it is important that we chase our dreams and constantly push ourselves to achieve more. Michael Phelps is our Rewire Hero of the Week. 

“You can’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.”

Michael Phelps

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Photo By Agência Brasil Fotografias – MICHAEL PHELPS E KATIE LEDECKY CONCEDEM ENTREVISTAS NO PARQUE OLÍMPICO, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50475190

Sun Sachs

Bruce Lee – Rewire Hero of the Week

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“The possession of anything begins in the mind”

Bruce Lee

Born in November 27th, 1940 in both the hour and the year of the Dragon, Bruce Lee (Chinese: 李小龍), was a Hong Kong American actor, director, martial artist, martial arts instructor and philosopher.

Bruce Lee is considered by commentators, critics, media, and other martial artists to be the most influential martial artist of all time. Lee broke tradition by mastering and then incorporating the best aspects of different disciplines to create a hybrid, formless type of martial arts that could adapt to any style called Jeet Kune Do.  Lee is often credited by many to be the “father of mixed martial arts” influencing both boxing and MMA legends such as Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Conor McGregor, and Jon Jones.

In film and popular culture, Bruce Lee changed the perception of eastern culture and philosophy in the western world and helped to elevate the martial arts genre in film and share the philosophy and teachings from Taoism, Jiddu Krishnamurti, and Buddhism.  During the course of his acting career, Bruce faced racism and prejudice being initially limited to starring in supporting roles like Kato in the Green Hornet and being turned down in leading roles like Kung Fu.  Ultimately, Lee’s determination to become the most popular martial artist and action star was realized right before his early death at the age of 32 on July 20, 1973. 

Lee’s success subsequently inspired a wave of Western martial arts films and television shows throughout the 1970s–1990s (launching the careers of Western martial arts stars such as Jean-Claude Van Damme, Steven Seagal and Chuck Norris), as well as the more integration of Asian martial arts into action films and television shows during the 1980s–2000s.

“Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one”

Bruce Lee

Lee’s achievements serve as a timeless inspiration of what can be accomplished through experimentation, perseverance and self-belief which is why Bruce Lee is our Rewire Hero of the Week.

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To learn more about Bruce Lee we highly recommend this biography

Bruce Lee: A Life by Matthew Polly

And this documentary film:

How Bruce Lee Changed the World

Ed Gibbins

Gertrude Ederle – Rewire Hero of the Week

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“When somebody tells me I cannot do something, that’s when I do it.”

Gertrude Ederle

In 1926, Gertrude Ederle braved the rough conditions of the Atlantic Ocean to become the first woman to cross the English Channel. If not impressive enough, despite incredibly harsh conditions, Ederle also broke the all-time record by over two hours – beating all five previous men. Upon arriving back in New York, she was greeted with a ticker-tape parade attended by more than two million people. 

Aside from the her incredible English Channel crossing, Ederle had many other achievements. As an amateur athlete she held 29 US and World Records from 1921 to 1925, as well as winning a gold medal in the 1924 Paris Olympics. She also broke the record from Battery Park to Sandy Hook with a time that wouldn’t be beaten for 81 years; an annual swim, the Ederle Swim, is held at this location every year in her memory.

As someone with poor hearing herself, Ederle also gave back to the community by teaching deaf children to swim. She lived a long life to the age of 98, passing in 2003.

Gertrude’s achievements came at an incredibly important time, where female athletes were unfortunately not taken very seriously. Ederle is an inspiration to us all, showing us that you are capable of achieving your dreams regardless of who you are. Gertrude Ederle is our Rewire Hero of the week.

#RewireHeroes

Ed Gibbins

Jim Thorpe – Rewire Hero of the Week

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They just keep coming. But that’s what keeps me going.

Jim Thorpe

Jim Thorpe is considered one of the most all-round athletes of modern sports, competing in the Olympics and playing professional football, baseball and basketball. Thorpe was a member of the Sac and Fox Nation and was the first indigenous American to win a gold medal, winning two in the 1912 Olympics in the pentathlon and decathlon.

Thorpe with mismatched shoes in the 1912 Olympics

If not amazing enough, just before he was due to compete, Thorpe’s shoes were stolen and so he found two mismatched shoes (including one from the trash can) and wore them to compete and win the gold medal! Thorpe teaches us to not look for excuses, but instead look for solutions. Never let an obstacle get in your way, instead find a way around it.

Thorpe also competed in Major League Baseball, playing for the New York Giants, Cincinnati Reds, and Boston Braves. He also played professional football and was the first president of the APFA (later NFL). One of the football teams that he played for was the Canton Bulldogs, before his arrival they attracted crowds of 1,200 people but, due to Thorpe’s popularity, 8,000 people turned up to his debut game. Thorpe played 52 NFL games for 6 teams and was a part of the National Football League 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Thorpe succeeded at a time when there was severe racial inequality in America, and as a indigenous person he was a victim of this racism. Thorpe teaches us to never let anything get in the way of success, and that is why he is our Rewire Hero of the Week!

#RewireHeroes