Saturday 22 July 2017

Doohan Sets an Example as MND Strikes

Peter Doohan passed away this afternoon.

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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