I’m not much of a sports fan, but I do love HDTV, and what’s HD at the moment is Olympics coverage. Did watch a couple of snowboardcross races this evening, including two of Lindsey Jacobellis’. I was digging it - having seen some of the media coverage of her Olympic trek, and thinking what a pretty, articulate and confident 20 year old Olympian would do for her sport… and then it happened.

My first reaction was the same as most, I suppose… “why”? And in the moments following the fall, I realized that the post-incident, and not the incident itself, would likely be the defining moment in this young athlete’s life. I was nervous as she was immediately interviewed, and she waffled - understandable, given the magnitude. She seemed a bit overwhelmed - and who wouldn’t be? But what would her story be? Didn’t look real promising at the outset…

And then it happened. In an interview with Bob Costas, this poised, articulate and acutely disappointed athlete did it…

She took responsibility. Amazing.

If a big lead and rocking your way to a gold medal causes your concentration to break, and to rotate those extra 20 degrees on your Method, that’s inexperience, being 20, being distracted. Owning up to it, even in stages - THAT’s a sign of maturity beyond her years, and the ability to learn from the mistake and move on to the next mistake a sign of leadership.

Lindsey - here’s some advice. Keep making mistakes. Don’t go out of your way to make them, don’t make the same one(s) over and over, but keep taking chances, keep slugging away at it, keep learning and doing. You’re not the only person in or out of your sport who’s going to screw up, whether its bad judgement, bad execution, a momentary lapse in focus… but if you keep playing the game you’ll have a chance to learn from mistakes, and then - just like this time - you’ll have an opportunity to deny them, hide them, pass them off on others - or take responsibility, do what you can to avoid the same outcome in the future and move on.

Good on you, is what I say, and proudly wear that Silver medal. Like many things you’ll achieve in life, there will be others who wish you’d done it differently, or not done it at all, but you’ll notice most of those folks will criticize you from the comfort of their recliners, and not on the hill.

Lindsey Jacobellis, Olympic Medalist. You go girl!