10.12 Jenny Thompson: Head-On

“A part of what gets a swimmer to the elite level is an ability to face challenges head-on, to defy improbability.” - Jenny Thompson

How do you approach difficult situations — do you attack or avoid them?

Jenny Thompson was an elite competitive swimmer for the U.S. who won 12 Olympic medals from 1992 to 2004. She later became an anesthesiologist.

Jenny once said, “A part of what gets a swimmer to the elite level is an ability to face challenges head-on, to defy improbability.”

This quote means that reaching an elite level in swimming—or in anything—requires more than talent or training. It takes the courage to face tough situations directly instead of avoiding them. Elite swimmers don’t back down from hard workouts, setbacks, or tough competition; they meet challenges with determination and belief that they can improve. 

“Defying improbability” means pushing through moments when success seems unlikely or the odds are against you. True growth happens when you confront difficulty, not when you avoid it—and that willingness to face challenges is what separates great performers from good ones.

Question of the Day: When something feels hard or uncertain, do you face it head-on or try to avoid it — and what might happen if you chose courage instead of comfort?