To better appreciate the athleticism of top athletes, people are encouraged to imagine what “ordinary” people would look like, say, playing a down in the NFL. In practice, the closest we got was watching a kicker (admittedly, himself a top athlete) trying to make a tackle.
That all changed a few weeks ago when Belgian shot putter Jolien Boumkwo was pressed into service in the hurdles so her team would not be disqualified from the European Team Championships. Mission accomplished, and with good humor. But also with a reminder about what it looks like when even the most skilled step outside their areas of expertise. How would your team respond if “pressed into service?” And what might this teach us about taking steps (e.g., cross-training) to avoid such circumstances?