Overcoming adversity in sports is one of the most reliable paths to greatness. To learn how to bounce back from defeat, it helps to look back through history at the greatest athletes of all time.
History is full of stories about athletes who were cut from teams, experienced heartbreaking losses, and devastating injuries. But because the spotlight is usually focused on the highlight reels of the winners, the heroic stories of their persevering journeys are often missed.
Michael Jordan: Cut from his High School Team
Michael Jordan was famously cut in high school from his varsity basketball team in the 10th grade. Later in his career, Jordan reflected back on the experience: “It was embarrassing not making that team. They posted the roster and it was there for a long, long time without my name on it. I remember being really mad, too.” The experienced seeded his famously relentless work ethic. “Whenever I was working out and got tired and figured I ought to stop, I’d close my eyes and see that list in the locker room without my name on it and that usually got me going again.” Jordan finished his career as a global icon: six-time NBA Finals MVP, six NBA championship rings, two Olympic gold Medals, and widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time.
I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.
Michael Jordan, The GOAT
Bill Russell, Abby Wambach, and Crystal Dunn Faced Similar Setbacks
Overcoming adversity in sports by getting cut, sidelined, or written off and bouncing back stronger isn’t a story unique to Jordan. The list goes on and on.
Bill Russell was cut from his junior varsity basketball team in high school and mostly ignored by college recruiters prior to winning 11 NBA Championships.
Abby Wambach suffered devastating World Cup losses in 2003, 2007, and 2011 before finally achieving her dream of winning the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup at the end of her soccer career.
Crystal Dunn was the very last player cut from the US Women’s 2015 World Cup roster. She described the moment: “Getting that phone call and being told you’re not going to the World Cup was soul crushing. I really doubted myself in that moment… I had to make the decision to pick myself up, dust myself off, just get back to work and enjoy the game again.” Four years later, in 2019, Dunn became a FIFA World Cup champion. In 2021, she was the only American World Cup player to start in every match at the Tokyo Summer Olympics.
Tom Brady: The 199th Pick
Tom Brady was passed over in the first give rounds of the 2000 NFL. Finally selected as pick number 199, he was the seventh quarterback selected in the NFL draft that year. Two years later, Brady led the New England Patriots to a Super Bowl. He went on to win seven Super Bowls over the course of his career.
How to Start Overcoming Adversity in Sports (and Life)
If you were recently cut or sidelined, you’re in good company. It hurts now, but it might just be the fuel you come back strong later. Jordan, Russell, Wambach, Dunn, and Brady all adopted a growth mindset to work harder and rise back to the top.. Take a page from their playbook: their histories of failure are exactly what paved the way to their success. What’s what overcoming adversity in actually looks like. Improvement is not a straight line, it often looks more like comeback.
Do you know of other comeback stories about great athletes? I want to hear them. Drop me a line and share your favorite stories about famous athletes overcoming career obstacles.