Sports & Gaming

Stay Healthy to Stay in the Game

Wayne Gretzky

Lesson time 04:18 min

You have to be present to win, and maintaining your physical and mental health allows you to be at your best for as long as possible.

Students give MasterClass an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars

Topics include: Stay Healthy to Stay in the Game

Preview

[MUSIC PLAYING] - The greatest thing that we do as athletes is we don't change our routine. Routine becomes a part of our life. And you get into a routine that you're comfortable with, and you believe in, and that puts your mind at ease. It's a physical, demanding, mentally demanding sport. And if you're not at 100%, that's when injuries occur. I was really lucky in my career not to have very many injuries. But I had one major injury in 1992 that probably started in September of '91. But fortunately I was able to rectify the issue and only missed 40 games. And moving forward, it turned out to be great for my career. My injury was very, very unique, in that I hurt a part of my back with my upper back. It changed my life, in the sense that I understood and realized I was getting older, and the work that I needed to put in was going to expand. But the reality is it was probably a nice little break for me, in a sense that I played so much hockey from Canada Cups, and Stanley Cup playoffs, and 14 exhibition games a year, and 80 league games a year. That physically and mentally was probably a nice break for me and motivated me to come back even stronger. So as disappointed as I was in September of '92, obviously I was extremely happy in January of '93 to be back playing hockey. There was also an unintended benefit to me taking a break. That gave other players on the team an opportunity to step up and play together in a different way. We got off to an outstanding start. I think Luke Robitaille's best year as an NHL player was that particular year. He really did a tremendous job of carrying the team and influencing the rest of the group. And it was probably a year for him to grow as a leader and step in as a little bit of an older player, and step in and be the leader that the team needed at that time. I was able to come back in mid-January and felt really good. It was one of those years that was so exciting, because we weren't the best team, but as a team, we played together better than any team in the National Hockey League at that point. We were fortunate enough to battle our way through three tough playoff series and get to the Stanley Cup Finals. As I said, it was a group that by no means was as talented or near as talented as the teams that I won championships with Edmonton. But what it had similar to those players and teams in Edmonton was grit and unselfishness, a sense of teamwork, and commitment to each other. And in a lot of ways, I was more proud of that team than any team I ever played on. But from the point of view of the organization, the players, the fans, the coaches, it was difficult. It was a tough loss, and it was one of the hardest losses I've ever had to swallow. I think the positive from that was a couple of things. One is the memory that we'll always have of we played in the Stanley Cup Finals. Although, it was disappointing and heartbreaking to lose, from the bigger picture, it was finally a sense o...

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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