So who’s your hero now?

As a long term cyclist I have naturally followed the career of Lance Armstrong. As an athlete, cancer survivor, fund raiser, even potential presidential candidate blessed with rugged good looks, here was a man feted by royalty and the inspiration to millions. I read his books, cheered him to victory and wore his “Livestrong” wrist band at a testing time in my life. Yet 6 months ago I went through a grieving process. As is now well and truly out in the public arena, not all was as it seemed. I expect there were many golfing fans who felt the same way about Tiger Woods when his numerous transgressions became public knowledge.

So if it’s not larger-than-life sportsmen, who should we look up to?

If it’s a sporting figure, I suggest you look to female champions. The lot of women in sports is a tough one – there’s less money, less media coverage and less public interest. The vast majority of females who commit to their sport still hold down a day job and/or rely on family for financial support. Heck, a great many of them also have responsibility for children too. Almost without exception, sportswomen behave admirably – there’s none of the “mad Mondays”, drunken binges or sex-crazed lunacy we’ve become conditioned to expect from sportsmen.

So by any measure, Anna Meares the Olympic cyclist is a worthy champion. Relentless competitor, humble as a winner, gracious in defeat and amazing in overcoming injury, Anna conducts herself admirably.

But why stop at sports? Indeed, why only look to older people? What about Jessica Watson who defied the experts and successfully sailed solo around the world at age 16? Like Anna, Jessica was very grounded in the face of the media upon achieving her objective - “I don’t consider myself a hero. I’m just an ordinary girl who believed in a dream. You don’t have to be someone special to achieve something amazing. You just have to have a dream, believe in it and work hard.”

However, as much as I’ve looked to others in search of inspiration, the more the answers seem to be within me. I’ve come to the realisation that I don’t actually need the example of others to live by my personal values. And what others achieve in their field is only indirectly relevant to my own pursuit of excellence. I’ll never be a champion sports person, a world leader or media personality. The career path I’m following is different to anyone I know but it feels right to me. I choose to live life my way, using the gaze of the man in the mirror to keep me on track.