Athlete
Introduction
To compete at Olympic Games is the best that can happen in the career for any athlete. Track and Field events in Olympics are very important. That is why Carl Lewis and Usain Bolt are names known to many of us. Many youngsters aspire to leave a mark in the field of athletics these days.
What do athletes do?
Athletes participate in an exclusive collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking. The most common types of athletics competitions are track and field, road running, cross country running, and race walking. The simplicity of the competitions, and the lack of a need for expensive equipment, makes athletics one of the most commonly competed sports in the world.
Athletics is mostly an individual sport, with the exception of relay races and competitions which combine athletes' performances for a team score, such as cross country. The International Association of Athletics Federations, the sport's governing body, defines athletics in five disciplines: track and field, road running, race walking, cross country running, and mountain running. All forms of athletics are individual sports with the exception of relay races.
How to become an athlete?
To be an athlete the sooner one begins the better. Having talent is very important but people who are able to find a good coach and training have a better chance of becoming successful. Strong determination and perseverance in needed along with talent. One can take training at various facilities of Sports Authority of India. One can begin after class 12 or earlier. One can begin career at the amateur level and start participating in the State level, Regional level and finally graduate to the National level. Other than SAI, there are many state level and private organizations that support athletics and sports enthusiasts. In many SAI establishments, the government bears the cost of training and also brings top level coaches. Most of the SAI programmes also have scholarships and student support and students can also look for financial assistance since many sportspeople in India struggle to find sponsorships.
