Fire Up Dan

Dan getting ready on the start line

This was a motivational “speech” given to Daniel Greig just prior to his 1000m race at Salt Lake City. It was his last chance to post a qualifying time for the Olympic Games, and I was asked (by him) to give him a “pep-talk” prior to his race. It was delivered to him in the form of a “note” on an iPhone.

Dear little Dan,

I’ve known you for a long time. Ever since you were an annoying little shit skating around the rink formerly known as roller city Eltham. You know what’s weird? I feel like we’ve been here before. Not in salt lake city, but in this situation. I was there in colombia when you were literally cheated out of the track time trial… then what did you do? Oh yeah, you won the road time trial, and I became that guy in the hong kong team uniform who mysteriously knew all the words to the Australian national anthem.

What is it to be under pressure? Is it a song whose intro is often confused with a vanilla ice song? No. It is a force per unit area applied in a direction perpendicular to the surface of an object. That’s the definition of pressure. I looked it up. And despite the obvious fact that you’re a little shorter than I am, for longer than I care to admit, I’ve looked up to you too.

Dude. You’ve been here before (not literally, but figuratively), and you’ve got what it takes. Now it’s up to you to do what you have to do. What you’ve been trained to do. Free your mind and focus. The flying spaghetti monster’s noodly appendage will keep you safe, and Josh will be trackside with the banana copter, should you require AIR support (see, I made a pun!).

This isn’t the first time we’ve tried something that was previously thought impossible, and it won’t be the last. I believe in you man. Good luck, and may the schwarz be with you!