This is article 6 in the SP100 list, highlighting elite athletes' and coaches' achievements, philosophies and methodologies. These articles highlight stories and careers that have potentially been missed or gone under the radar by the mainstream media.
Ronnie O’Sullivan has become a British sporting icon. From his phenomenal snooker shots to his sometimes bizarre interviews, he has become a household name. However, for most people, his name goes before him, while details of his training and success are limited to what appears on the TV a couple of times a year.
His career started at a blistering pace after turning pro at 16. He incredibly won 74 of his first 76 matches while still a teenager. While looking at Ronnie’s career now and seeing his career earnings and trophy cabinet, it would be easy to think that it was plain sailing, going from a young player with phenomenal talent into one of the games greatest-ever players. However, once you delve slightly deeper, you realise how impressive his career has actually been.
Finding your coping mechanism
Being an athlete of the stature of Ronnie O’Sullivan, it is very hard to keep a private life private. Ronnie did not have the easiest upbringing when at 16, his father received a life sentence for murder in 1992. This was followed by his mother’s arrest in 1996 for tax evasion when he was 20. Transitioning from a junior to a senior competitor is tough for all athletes. However, undertaking this transition while losing both parents to incarceration is incredibly tough. Therefore, it is no surprise that Ronnie struggled during this time. In his late teenage years and early 20s, he battled drug and alcohol issues.
Living a party lifestyle, he turned to alcohol and drugs to cope with the stresses and strains of his intense professional career combined with his turbulent family situation. The expectations and pressures came to a head in 2005 when he checked himself into the Priory rehabilitation centre due to suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts. This could have easily been the end of his sporting story; however, it was just the beginning.
After leaving rehab, he wanted to get his career back on track. However, people with highly stressful careers need a coping mechanism to help deal with their pressures. In his early years, he used drugs and alcohol, but after his recovery, he turned to a new strategy – running. He became completely obsessed with the sport. In his autobiography, he confesses to preferring cross country races to snooker and regularly having to remind himself that he was not a pro runner and had to pay the bills. He still had to train snooker alongside his running.
He achieved some very impressive running times that included a sub 35 minute 10k, which most runners who have trained their whole lives would see as a great personal best. However, most importantly, he found a healthy coping strategy that distanced his focus and energy from his stress. The running took his mind off his struggles and concerns around his career and personal life while also getting him into the fittest shape of his life.
Life can be draining and difficult, especially for high performers. A coping mechanism is important for maintaining a healthy life balance and avoiding burnout. The challenge is to find a healthy mechanism. Turning to an active or creative activity can channel energy and focus away from your career while also benefitting you long term. It is important to take a step back and ask yourself, ‘what do I currently use to cope with stress?’ And ‘is this the best mechanism I can use?’
Build your corner
Many successful athletes have a team in their corner throughout their careers. This often includes staff like coaches and physios, as well as family and partners. However, Ronnie's corner has some surprising names. Rock icon Ronnie Wood and Artist Damien Hirst are often spotted in the stands supporting him at the major snooker championships. At first glance, this may be construed as celebrity friends taking the opportunity to take some free tickets to watch world-class sporting action. Yet, when you scratch the surface, you see that it goes far deeper than that. Ronnie O’Sullivan and Damien Hurst were instrumental in getting Ronnie Wood into rehab in 2009 when his partying and drug use got completely out of hand. Importantly, this unlikely friendship trio can support each other in a way many others cannot.
While they operate in very different areas professionally, they have all struggled with pressures and addictions during their career. We all have problems and struggles during our careers. While those directly close to you, such as coaches, managers or family members, can lend a hand in aiding you, they may not fully understand the issues. Finding those on a similar journey or who have walked a similar path to yours can create a much-needed extra support network. You can generate advice, ideas and aid while also helping you overcome possible speedbumps.
Ronnie O’Sullivan is both a phenomenal snooker player and an inspirational story. He demonstrates that even sporting superstars are human. They have issues and struggles like everyone else, but those that succeed find a way through it. Importantly, we will all hit impasses in our lives, but finding strategies and people to help you carve a path through will allow you to reach the top and stay there if utilised correctly.
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