Henkel’s Post

From missing out on the Olympics to 7th in the world, 1st in Australia, and the highest globally ranked Australian Men's Street Skater, Tommy Fynn is challenging the narrative that younger is better for action sports athletes. It's been a crazy year of tough competition, injuries, dodging rain, and having to change mindsets. Seeing all the hard work coming together in the past few months has been amazing. Mindset and Strategy have been the two key drivers in turning around Tommy's contest performances over the past 12 months. Mindset has been vital in adjusting the way he processes past and immediate experiences and can work towards the future with true belief in his ability as well as a monumental shift in his contest performances. Strategy has allowed us to plan our training sessions, prepare for contests and predict results. The flow on being the ability to trust the process and be present in the moment, knowing we've properly planned what we need to execute on. Together those areas have allowed us to achieve Tommy's best performance to date, coming 7th in the world at the World Skate Championships in Rome 2 weeks ago, to arriving home and taking out 1st Place at the The Rumble National Championships in Mackay last week. This has moved Tommy up to 23rd in the World Skate rankings, a position that would qualify him for the Olympics if it was tomorrow, 1 week away from his 36th birthday. Tommy is truly showing that age isn't the only defining factor in creating successful competition skaters. #sportspsychology #athletedevelopment #coaching #ageisjustanumber

The 2024 Paris Olympics/Paralympics captured our imagination … and Australia's highlights were nothing short of inspiring: • Jess Fox cementing her legacy as the most successful paddler in kayaking/canoeing history, bringing home two Gold medals • Alexa Leary’s stunning performance to win the Women's 100m freestyle S9 in world record time • Caitlin Parker making history as the first Australian woman to win an Olympic boxing medal in the W75kg category • Lauren Parker achieving a remarkable feat as Australia's first dual-sport Paralympic medallist in 44 years, securing Gold in the Paratriathlon and Women's road race H14 and Silver in the H13 individual time trial ... and there are many, many more examples on the highlights reel. … and ‘Yes’ - the medals are cause for celebration, but the real magic lies in how sport inspires; creates community, a sense of belonging, resilience, self-confidence; and forges friendships and cherished memories. So, it’s no surprise that every Olympic/Paralympic Games sparks a surge of interest in sports participation. But the real challenge for Australia’s 400+ participation sports - especially those outside the mainstream like paddling, rock climbing, lacrosse (set to debut in the 2028 LA Games) - is how to maintain and capitalize on this momentum. Well, it starts with getting noticed … and how do you do that … talk to a good marketer! #sportsmarketing #branding #brandbuilding

🏅 I've been an Olympics enthusiast since Sydney 2000 (the first I remember)! The excitement of watching elite athletes come together to compete for Olympic Gold, especially in team sports, is unmatched. 🥇 At Slalom, my team and I have developed a new model of team effectiveness, and I'm thrilled to share it with you over the next week. Each day, I'll highlight one of our five key elements of effective teams, using examples from different Olympic sports. 🌟 Let's kick things off with the first element: Focused on Relationships. 🤝 I first learned about beach volleyball in the 2004 Olympics, watching Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings dominate the sport for three consecutive gold medals. 🏐 In beach volleyball, success hinges on strong relationships. Each player's ability to anticipate their teammates' moves, communicate seamlessly, and trust one another is crucial. Just like gold-medal beach volleyball teams, effective teams build from psychological safety, foster trust and facilitate effective communication 💬 Stay tuned for more insights on how Olympic teams exemplify our model of team effectiveness! 🏆 #TeamEffectiveness #Volleyball #Olympics #Teamwork

Furlough Day 49: Achieve results when you meet people where they are The Summer Olympics just finished a few weeks ago. It is both entertaining and inspiring to watch the Olympic games. Simone Biles' unmatched twists and turns; Katie Ledecky's endurance and speed; and Noah Lyle's edging of his competitors to be declared "fastest man". These athletic feats are nothing short of impressive! Occuring a few weeks after the conclusion of the Olympics and with less fanfare are the paralympics. If you haven't watched this, you are missing out! The competition, spirit, sportsmanship, athleticism and perserverance of the paralympians is high. Each athlete is an elite competitor in their own right, even though they may have been born with, or endured, a disability. Their competitiveness and athleticism is unalterated by their handicap: Disability ≠ Inability Many of the traditional events are modified to accommodate the disabilities of the athletes. But the competition is no less intense and the victories are no less touching. Paralympic athletes, are competing for something way bigger than themselves; they all overcame adversity and challenges. The greater the adversity, the better the story. Modifying sports to allow these athletes to pursue their dreams has the same, arguably better, results for viewers than the Olympics. If we meet people where they are, we may be pleased by the results we get. The Paralympics deserves as much as attention as the Olympics. Watch it if you have the chance.

Countdown to World Para Athletics: Celebrating Strength and Spirit 🌟 Join us in the anticipation of the World Para Athletics Championships, a testament to human resilience, strength, and the indomitable spirit of athletes who redefine the possible. As we count down to this global celebration of sporting excellence, let's delve into the stories of para-athletes whose journeys are not just about athletic achievements but are powerful narratives of overcoming, persevering, and inspiring. Featured Para-Athletes: 🏅 Kathleen O'Kelly-Kennedy: A trailblazer in wheelchair basketball, Kathleen's fierce determination and leadership both on and off the court have made her a symbol of strength and an advocate for inclusivity in sports. 🏅 Brad Ness: A paralympic gold medalist and a titan in the world of wheelchair basketball, Brad's journey from a life-changing accident to the pinnacle of Paralympic success is a profound story of resilience. 🏅 Matthew Levy OAM: Decorated with multiple Paralympic medals, Matthew's accomplishments in swimming stand as a beacon of excellence, showcasing what relentless pursuit of goals, paired with unmatched dedication, can achieve. As we gear up for the World Para Athletics Championships, let's embrace the lessons of courage, persistence, and triumph that these athletes bring to the forefront. Their stories go beyond sports; they are a call to action for all of us to strive for our best, irrespective of the hurdles we face. Book these inspiring para-athletes and inspire others on their journey to the World Para Athletics Championships 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gwXXAWgx #worldparaathletics #paraathletes #resilience #strength #spirit #kathleenokellykennedy #bradness #matthewlevy #inspiration #motivation #parasportsawareness

The closing ceremony of the 2024 Summer Paralympics will be held at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France, this Sunday. The Paralympic Games have grown into one of the world’s largest sporting events, attracting over 4,000 athletes from more than 160 nations. Held every four years after the Olympics, these Games celebrate the extraordinary talents of athletes with disabilities. Since their origin in 1948 as a small competition for British World War II veterans, the Paralympics have evolved into a major global event. The Paralympic Games are designed to celebrate the athletic achievements of participants, showcasing their skills and strengths. Today, the Summer Paralympic program includes 22 sports, while the Winter Paralympics feature six sports. A key element of the Paralympics is the classification system, which ensures fair competition by grouping athletes based on the nature of their disabilities. The Paralympic Games continue to grow and play a crucial role in challenging societal perceptions of disability. With each event, the achievements of Paralympic athletes affirm that sport is for everyone. Learn more about the Paralympic Games ➡️ https://w.wiki/3vtA

European Para Championships receives extended patronage from European Paralympic Committee The European Paralympic Committee has renewed its patronage to the European Para Championships, providing crucial support in various capacities. This support includes the endorsement of the Games stamp, facilitating communication with European Paralympic Committee members, and contributing to the ongoing development of the European Para Championships across the continent. The shared goal is to host the European Para Championships every four years. Leveraging its affiliations with the International Paralympic Committee and the European Union, the European Paralympic Committee will actively promote the expansion and enhancement of the European Para Championships, not only in upcoming cycles but at least until the 2035 edition. Presently encompassing 10 sports, both the European Paralympic Committee and European Para Championships management envision a broader horizon for the Championships. Aspiring to welcome additional International Federations, if feasible within the concept, in subsequent editions in 2027, 2031, 2035, and beyond. Read more ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/eZeK6jxP Eric Kersten | Raymon Blondel | Geoffrey Newton

Winning Isn't For Everyone - Nike Olympics VS Nike Paralympics Seeing Nike's new Paralympics Ad which follows up on the Olympic 'Winning Isn't For Everyone' is a great example of how small executional changes can significantly shift perception The average Star rating for Nike on the System1 Test Your Ad database is 2.4 Stars Olympic Winning Isn't For Everyone = 1.4 Stars Paralympic Winning Isn't For Everyone = 3.7 Stars So what's changed? Have a look yourself below where I have put both ad's side-by-side so you can see the story and emotional response of the audience. The original is sped up significantly to enable you to see 90secs vs 30secs. Here are 4 main differences 👉 Relatable to Everyone - the Olympic version taps into the mindset required to be a winner and asks whether that makes you a bad person. It's a brilliant but somewhat uncomfortable truth about what it takes to win. On the other hand the Paralympic Ad takes a more obvious approach playing on the old mantra of 'isn't not the winning it's the taking part'. 👉 The Tale of Two VO's - Contrast the determined VO of the Paralympic Ad with the somewhat sinister Willem Dafoe VO in the Olympic ads. Voices create associations for us and the use of Willem is inspired but for some will have created images of the Joker in their mind. 👉 Uplifting Music From the Start - the Olympic Ad creates a peak end with the introduction of classical music at the end whereas the Paralympic one brings that in almost from the start. Music is exceptionally powerful at generating emotion and this will almost certainly have lifted the score. 👉 30 Seconds is Optimal - as much as I love the drama of 90 seconds the Test Your Ad database reveals an interesting fact that 30 seconds seems to be the optimal time length to capture attention and get your message across. To see for yourself I have include a link to the report for both Ad's here Nike Olympic Winning Isn't For Everyone https://lnkd.in/eWC2zdND Nike Paralympic Winning Isn't For Everyone https://lnkd.in/edC8BNUU For anyone interested these reports are generated every 24 hours after a new Ad airs on TV so if you want to see how yours has done drop me a DM Andrew Tindall Will Poskett Nick Bonney Kerry Collinge

How Nuanced Changes in a Message Can Shape Perception A month ago, we discussed a video with a team, and opinions were divided. At the time, I felt that the video's tone didn't align with the current zeitgeist. Winning isn't for everyone, and achieving it often requires significant sacrifices. Power, irrationality, selfishness — this "main-character energy." For example, was it right for Veltman to deliberately throw the ball at Rice to provoke him and get him sent off the field? For me, not. But winning is winning, right? The idea of winning is not for everyone—it's an incredibly big, emotional, and controversial platform, but in my opinion, the execution of this ad needed a breather. Contrast this with the execution in the Paralympic Games ad, highlighted by these solid statistics. Both ads share a discomforting "winner-takes-all" perspective—the same umbrella, different approaches—but in an uplifting and non-polarizing way. The one is clear. Everyone is an athlete. But winning is winning. An uncomfortable idea that makes you stop scrolling, think and discuss. And what else is needed for advertising?

Visually impaired runner Libby Clegg and Paralympic guide Chris Clarke ran wrist to wrist, perfectly synchronized, and won gold in the 100-meter and 200-meter races at the Paralympic Games in 2016, breaking the Paralympic world record! Interestingly, Clarke didn’t make it for England’s national team and couldn’t compete in the 2016 Olympics, but he made a comeback by partnering with a winner in the 2016 Paralympic. He and Clegg trained for only two months together, and he helped Clegg see what she couldn't see. The takeaway? Winners need opportunity. When a winner partners with another winner, the likelihood of success DOUBLES. Are you teaming with winners? Repost this to your winner partners! #Success #Teamwork #Partnership #Cofounders