Failure is not an Option, but it is part of the Equation. The 1996 US Olympic Trials Final for the 110-meter high hurdles. The top 3 will represent the Olympic Team. The Start List could serve as an Olympic Final in any other arena. Note: The following rankings were based on Track & Field News, circa 1996.

Lane 1. Roger Kingdom. 1984 and 1988 Olympic Gold Medalist. Former World Record holder. Current American Record holder.

Lane 2. Tony Dees. 1992 Olympic Silver Medalist.

Lane 3. Larry Harrington. One of the Top 15 fastest US hurdlers in history.

Lane 4. Mark Crear. 1994 and 1995 #1 World ranking.

Lane 5. Jack Pierce. 1992 Olympic Bronze Medalist. Fourth fastest hurdler ever!

Lane 6. Allen Johnson. 1995 World Indoor and Outdoor Champion.

Lane 7. Eugene Swift. One of the Top 15 fastest US hurdlers in history.

Lane 8. And Me, a local Math Teacher and Coach.

Before the Olympic Trials, I was NEVER ranked in the US Top 10. Nothing on paper said I should have made it this far.

Recap: Top 3 made the US Olympic team. When the race ended, Allen Johnson, 1st. Mark Crear, 2nd. Eugene Swift, 3rd. I was 4th, by 0.07 seconds! I would be the first alternate just in case anyone got injured. Mark (Crear) would break his arm and still earn Silver and Allen (Johnson) Gold in the actual Games later that Summer.

The reporter from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution interviewed my Olympic Coach, the late Charles Foster. He was quoted, “We failed.” People gasp to this day when they hear that comment. He was 100% correct!

Our goal was to win Olympic Gold, and the first step was to earn a spot on the US team. But, we failed to achieve that goal. However, failing does not mean you are a failure. We failed…but, I finished the year with a #10 World and a #6 National ranking, as well as with the 10th fastest time in American history (at the time). We failed…but I competed in over 60 cities in 25 different countries over the next four years. We failed…but after three Olympiads and 19 years of training, I finally walked into the Olympic stadium representing my late father’s homeland of Trinidad & Tobago. We failed…but that did not make me a failure. Several incredible outcomes still took place; had we focused only on the one missed goal, we would have never achieved the accolades that followed.

For every success in my life, I can acknowledge 10-15 failures. Hence, why I share with my athletes and students, COMPETE! If you got a lane, you got a chance. When you set off on your goals, you don’t anticipate failing. However, if/when it happens, you don’t “trip” and lose focus. It’s part of the equation. Learn from it. Build off it. Continue to grow.

So, learn to continue to compete and allow the officials to sort out the rest. Go for your Dreams!