Sports & Gaming
Idols and Inspiration
Lesson time 04:55 min
It’s important to find the person or people who inspire you and not only watch what they do but also learn how hard they worked to get to their level.
Students give MasterClass an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars
Topics include: Identify Your Heroes
Teaches the Athlete’s Mindset
NHL star Wayne Gretzky shares his journey and his approach to a winning mindset, from tapping into your true passion to committing to success every day.
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[MUSIC PLAYING] - To find your idols and your inspiration is something that is really, really important, whether it's play the flute, or play the piano, or want to be an actor, want to be a screenwriter. When you track down and start following that person or those people that have inspired you, not just watching their abilities, but learn the history of how hard they work to get to where they got to, it's really I think so inspiring for kids to understand that it just doesn't happen overnight. You just don't become good because you think you're good. You become good because you're committed to becoming better each and every day. [MUSIC PLAYING] In 1969, I was eight years old. Gordie was almost at the end of his career. But I was already on the radar with Gordie Howe at the age of five. Because one of the greatest Christmas presents I ever got was I got a Gordie Howe Detroit Red Wings jersey for Christmas. And I remember I was five years old. And it's so interesting because in those days, you only saw one game a week-- Saturday night, hockey night in Canada. And you probably saw Gordie play seven or eight times a year on TV. That's just the way it was back then. I do remember my dad, at a young age, saying, watch number 9 play. He's the best hockey player in the world. And so when I started watching Gordie, that's what I found about him that was so unique is that he could do things on the ice that other players couldn't. He looked so calm, so collected. His agility was amazing. His power and strength was better than anyone else. But his calmness as an athlete was what really stuck out to me. It never felt like he was ever desperately chasing. He always seemed to be relaxed and calm and in the moment. When I first started watching Gordie, I got so enamored by him that I remember I went to a barbershop and I asked the barber to give me a Gordie Howe haircut. That's how much I kind of wanted to emulate him. His two boys played junior hockey, which at that time was called the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League. And they played for the Detroit Junior Red Wings-- Mark and Marty. Gordie came to Branford to watch them play one night. And I remember, I stood behind him as he sat in the seat, and he was signing autographs for kids. It's changed a little bit. Now, people want pictures. In those days, kids wanted autographs. And I remember just staring at him for two hours as he signed autographs the whole game. But I had this fond belief that he was something so unique and so special. I was lucky enough at the age of 10, I did a charity dinner that the city of Branford asked me to be part of with Gordie Howe. And I remember my dad saying to me afterwards, how was it? And I always remember saying to my dad, he was bigger, better, and nicer than I could ever have imagined. He was so, so special, and so nice. And then at the age of 17, we played together. We played in an All Star game together. And we sa...
About the Instructor
Over his 21-year career, Wayne Gretzky not only rewrote the NHL record book, he also set himself apart as one of the most accomplished professional athletes of all time. Now “The Great One” shares the moments and mindset that made him successful so you can aim for greatness in your own life. Learn the power of an athlete’s mindset and tap into passion, motivation, and dedication. Get ready to take your biggest shot yet.
Featured MasterClass Instructor
Wayne Gretzky
NHL star Wayne Gretzky shares his journey and his approach to a winning mindset, from tapping into your true passion to committing to success every day.
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