Gerd Kanter is a famous Estonian discus thrower. He won the Olympic gold medal in Beijing in 2008. In his opinion, sports are a great place to learn life skills. Not everyone needs to win medals; success can also come in other areas of life.
Kanter doesn’t often think about his Olympic victory. His gold medal can be seen at the Sports and Olympic Museum in Tartu. He trusts the museum staff and doesn’t go to look at the medal. However, his son would like the medal to be at home.
Kanter had a dream of winning Olympic gold. If he hadn’t achieved it, he would have been sad. But he knows that sports are more than just medals. He has also learned a lot from losses.
A good loss is when you achieve your best result and learn something new. Kanter has had several such experiences. He believes that every medal is very important for Estonia because we are a small nation.
Kanter thinks that athletes should be role models for young people. His book "15 Steps to Victory" talks about simple life truths. These help one grow into a good person.
In sports, the child’s own desire is crucial. Parents and coaches should support, not force. Kanter believes that education is very important. Sports are a short part of life, but education lasts a lifetime.
The Olympic Games have changed. New sports are added, some old ones disappear. Kanter believes that fair sports are possible. He hopes that young athletes will also think about their health.
Kanter doesn’t want Estonia to give up on elite sports. Elite sports are important for the country. If the values are right, it’s a great field to test one’s abilities.