What do you think?
Rate this book
Reflections in the Ice: Inside the Heart and Mind of an Olympic Champion.
Reflections in the Ice is a rare look inside the heart and mind of a man who had no business succeding where he did. From the Mexican barrio in Souther California, around the world, through the aisles of Home Depot to the top step of the Olympic podium, Derek Parra struggled for seventeen years to become the first Latino ever to bring home Winter Olympic Gold. Through Reflections in the Ice he delivers a collection of emotional, soul bearing life lessons on poverty and Olympic glory, tragic death and new born life. It is a heartwarming and inspiring story for everyone.
294 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
17 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 2, 2014
With the Olympics just ending, I decided to read a book by Derek Parra, who won a gold medal and silver medal in the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics. I was fortunate enough to be an Olympic volunteer at the speed skating oval and was able to watch his two medal winning races live. He set a world record in the 1500 meter race, which I believe still stands today. This is an inspiring story of a regular guy, who worked hard in an obscure sport (he actually was a roller skater, turned ice speed skater) and it's a great story to learn about the lessons he learned during his journey of hard work and sacrifice to become an Olympic champion.
Here are the many lessons he learned:
1. Where you come from is not nearly as important as where you are going.
2. Hard work will bring you to the doorstep of opportunity, but you have to be willing to take a chance and step through.
3. No matter the obstacle--find a way.
4. Through faith you are never alone.
5. Your dreams are your own.
6. Conceive...BELIEVE...Achieve
7. Failure is not falling down, but rather, staying down.
8. The price of progress is the pain of change.
9. Follow your heart, it will always be true. Trust in your soul, it knows what to do.
10. Everything happens for a reason.
11. The will to win is not as important as the will to prepare to win.
12. Seek perfection and you will find perpetual progress.
13. It's not always how much you do, but how well you do it. See setbacks as opportunities.
14. Fear pain and it will drag down your dreams; Embrace it and it will carry you to new heights.
15. Sacrifice--forfeiture of something highly valued.
16. Pressure will cloud your vision; Perspective will open your eyes.
17. Enjoy the journey.
18. Surround yourself with good people and they will pave the pathway to your dreams.
19. Follow your dreams and you will know no regret.
I'm going to compete in an Ironman in September and I found this book very inspirational as I set out on the journey to achieve my goal and do my best. If you need an inspirational story, this is it.
Here are the many lessons he learned:
1. Where you come from is not nearly as important as where you are going.
2. Hard work will bring you to the doorstep of opportunity, but you have to be willing to take a chance and step through.
3. No matter the obstacle--find a way.
4. Through faith you are never alone.
5. Your dreams are your own.
6. Conceive...BELIEVE...Achieve
7. Failure is not falling down, but rather, staying down.
8. The price of progress is the pain of change.
9. Follow your heart, it will always be true. Trust in your soul, it knows what to do.
10. Everything happens for a reason.
11. The will to win is not as important as the will to prepare to win.
12. Seek perfection and you will find perpetual progress.
13. It's not always how much you do, but how well you do it. See setbacks as opportunities.
14. Fear pain and it will drag down your dreams; Embrace it and it will carry you to new heights.
15. Sacrifice--forfeiture of something highly valued.
16. Pressure will cloud your vision; Perspective will open your eyes.
17. Enjoy the journey.
18. Surround yourself with good people and they will pave the pathway to your dreams.
19. Follow your dreams and you will know no regret.
I'm going to compete in an Ironman in September and I found this book very inspirational as I set out on the journey to achieve my goal and do my best. If you need an inspirational story, this is it.
Displaying 1 of 1 review