The 2016 Olympics kicked off last week on the 5th of August in Rio de Janeiro. Been getting home late so never paid much attention to the games. Yesterday night was special to me. The women’s track cycling 4,000m race grabbed my attention by the neck.

It took me on a nostalgia trip you wouldn’t believe. Funny I talk of sports huh! well, the games in Rio take me back in time when I was in primary school. I represented my school in a 5,000m walking race. The experience that came with the competition changed my perspective of seeing things. I love sports and walking is my favorite. I walk to keep my body fit. The story of how tough the race was is for another day.

Okay, back to track cycling. The women’s race highlighted the importance of teamwork, dedication, sportsmanship, and talent in general. Honestly, athletes share a lot of qualities with every actor out here. These are some of the lessons I grabbed.

1. Be physically fit.

All athletes prepare months before the games roll. They do this by working out, shedding off unnecessary weight, eating the right food…Actors are no exception. Taking care of your physical appearance and wellness will definitely give you the confidence to go book that job in any audition.

2. Triumph from the setbacks and the hustles.

I watched the women fighting to catch their breath in the final laps. From the losing team to the world record breaker, some were dragged behind the race for other teammates to go first in the finish line but none of them quit. Quitting is not an option. The industry has its ups and downs, the driest season pops in and there you think of starting something different from what you love doing. One of the directors I’ve worked with keeps telling me. As an artist, you should have at least three sources of income to sustain you. This comes in handy during the dry season when no set is running. Come out winning.

  3. Personal growth is key.

The 4,000m had country women in fours finishing a race, one country after the other. The amount of speed was judged by their previous performance.  The commentators kept repeating and specifying “The ladies are 5 seconds faster than their last race” and ” The ladies are 2 seconds slower than their last race” This is no different from an actor’s life. An actor is only as good as his/her last performance. Gauge yourself. Keep close track of your performance record, take note of the flaws, and work on being a better performer every time you get an opportunity, do it like it’s the last.

4. Be a team player, you cannot do it alone.

The winning team was the Great Britain. These women broke a new world record of 4:13:26 minutes. This was evident from the amount of teamwork they executed, While on set work with fellow actors, creating a good rapport with the crew. The lead role’s performance without his/her supporting cast is empty. Whether you are a lead role or a supporting cast, work together with fellow actors for a killer show 😉 The directors get credit when actors perform well. I’m sure the Great Britain team had an extraordinaire coach that pushed them around. As an actor get a mentor, a coach, and someone with more experience to push you to your best.

As the #Rio2016 games go on, I congratulate the British girls for grabbing the “Oscars” yesterday and stepping on to the next level  hehe 😉 #GirlPower

I can’t wait for my Ingo boy Yego to throw his javelin stick the best way he knows how. I am rooting for my homeland Kenya. The Golds, the golds belong to the +254 champions. #GoTeamKenya

“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow” Antony J. D’Angelo.

Credits;

Makeup: Josphat Kimani

Wardrobe: Mercy Mwende

Hair: Ken Evans

#EveningWalkWithEuniceAyuma