HILEVEL PROFILE: CARRIE WONG

"I'm an all or nothing person with an extremely competitive drive," states Carrie Wong, 19, as she explains her approach to training for triathlons and leading her life in general. Carry is a former World Class Gymnast, a natural athlete and an excellent student.

When Carry no longer felt the drive for competitive gymnastics, the "all or nothing" standard kicked in and she retired from the sport. Carrie continued "my drive in gymnastics was never to compete with others, but rather with myself. When I lost the drive to get better, I decided it was time to move on."

And, move on she did! First of all, she had a Level 10 ranking and ten years of competitive experience, so to most people her future in gymnastics appeared to be etched in stone. Not to Carrie--she was clear the future relied on her will and desire and not her talent or past accomplishments. When she realized she had reached the point when her passion for gymnastics had waned, she had to learn how to make the transition from sprinting down the run way to vault or across the mat in free exercise, to running long distance. No small feat. Then, she had to learn how to swim and ride a bike with no prior experience in either event. In very few months, she learned how to train for and complete her first triathlon.

When I asked for an answer on how she did it, she responded "training to finish a triathlon turned out to a perfect way to channel my competitive drive and stay in shape." When I pushed her to go deeper she replied, "Because when I set a goal, I will do whatever it takes to achieve it."

Her performance profile reveals that the skill set that helped Carrie excel in gymnastics continues to serve her well. She loves to compete, she loves to perform in the spotlight, she can be calm in the face of enormous pressure and she has a very special type of vision. In a fraction of a second, she can see what has to be done and summon the strength, endurance and power to perform the specific task and make whatever she is doing fun.

In short, Carry is a "player"--she thinks, feels and acts like an athlete; she has the ability to be motivated, inspired and committed.

Motivated: When Carrie is clear about what she wants to accomplish and aware of what it take to make it happen… look out. "I chose to attend the University of Boston to get a quality education and gain exposure to the business environment of the East Coast. I miss Hawaii in every way imaginable but the sacrifice is worth it. I have accepted this challenge."

Inspired: Carrie is able to maintain her fire and keep her dream alive. "My courses are extremely demanding and yet my goal to maintain a 3.8 point average and be on the Dean's list. Right now my life is about my studies. Most days I don't even have time to train and yet, I'm having fun."

Committed: Carrie is eager to show up and play. "I have learned to attack my studies and enjoy the competition of fighting for grades. The thought of doing my best allows me to focus on doing the work."

Summary: Carrie knows that running or studying above the line includes more than just winning or making good grades. She knows that she should learn to tailor her "all or nothing" attitude to include the time to reflect, be calm and appreciate the moment. "My real goal is to learn how to give myself an occasional break and feel good about my success. I expect so much out of myself that sometimes I push too hard." I'm betting that she will.