Photo British Athletics

If I had to choose between my wife and my putter... well, I’d miss her.

Gary Player

Iron sharpens iron

At the recent world championships I spoke to an athlete who had been dominant in an event about a young rival who had recently beaten her. She replied, “It was just what I needed to push me to go faster”. Daley Thompson used to say “I train twice on Christmas Day because I know my rival only trains once!” In sport, we benefit from competition to bring out the best in us. How often have you heard an athlete pay tribute to a training partner?

Similarly, in the Christian life, it is hard to survive on your own. Perhaps that is why God invented the church! It is important to have people in our Christian life who encourage and challenge us. Even people to be accountable to. The church is a good start but it is too big, add a small group within the church, a prayer triplet, a friend to meet 1-2-1. If you are in a travelling sport, a friend who travels with you. Don’t be afraid to ask – and answer – the hard questions. Set yourself goals and be accountable for those goals to someone.

Weekly sports email