His battle
with Motor Neurone Disease ended the way every single diagnosed case of MND
ends; death.
Every single
case ends this way, no exceptions. He was diagnosed just 9 weeks ago.
Peter Doohan
became an overnight sensation 30 years ago when he defeated tournament
favourite Boris Becker at Wimbledon.
Stopping
Becker’s path to a 3rd consecutive All England Championship was his
greatest triumph in a professional tennis career that peaked with a world
ranking of 43 in August 1987.
This was the
year Pat Cash took out the title and he often attributed his 1987 success to
Doohan’s dismantling of Becker.
Our sports
stars occupy a media enhanced, public obsessed position of importance in our
society. We admire them for their resilience, longevity, skills, hard work and
achievements. We obsess over their relationships and appearance and demand they
set an example. We lament poor behaviour and seemingly ineffective performances
and outcomes.
In the world
of professional tennis, Peter Doohan’s career was unremarkable, accept perhaps
for a single performance that June Day in 1987.
However,
there is much to learn from Peter Doohan.
Prior to his
contest with Boris Becker, no one but not one believed Doohan would emerge
victorious. Chances are, not even he genuinely believed he would win.
Notwithstanding,
Peter Doohan prepared to ensure he brought the best version of himself to the Becker
contest. He brought his whole self to the match and he gave himself a chance to
succeed, and then did so.
What a great
example to us all. No matter what is unfolding and in what part of our life it
is unfolding, if we bring the best version of our whole selves to the occasion,
the possible outcomes are limitless.
RIP Peter
Doohan.
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