John Coughlin

Even Now, Sports Are Important

March 18, 2011 By Deb Chitwood 5 Comments

The devastation in Japan brings a lot of things into perspective. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Japanese people. Those of us who are lucky to have our families alive and well feel grateful that we still have one of the most important parts of life.

But what about other parts of our lives? Are they still important as well? The figure-skating community has been affected by the situation in Japan like the rest of the world – and by the fact that the 2011 World Figure Skating Championships originally scheduled to begin on March 21 were scheduled for Tokyo, Japan.

It’s obviously not appropriate to have the World Championships as originally scheduled. I don’t know what can or should happen with this year’s Worlds. But I do know that, despite everything that’s happened, sports are still important.

ESPN Commentary published an excellent article about this exact topic. The article is called “Japan and the Vanishing Point.” In the article, Jeff MacGregor says that the superficial and commercial parts of sports are unimportant. But he also says that the “object lessons in near-limitless human potential” are important:

I’m not talking about sports stardom or sports celebrity or sports money. Those things are unimportant. . . . But a kid driving the lane midair all grace and fire and defiance of gravity is not. The NFL draft or the NFL lockout or the NFL logo on your comforter and sheet set is nonsense. The courage to get back up having been knocked down is not. Opening ceremonies are majestic, profitable nonsense. Usain Bolt, 9.58, is not.

I think of all the positive character traits our children can learn through sports. I know my children have developed skills and traits that will serve them well throughout their lives . . . traits like self-confidence and the ability to work hard, develop self-discipline, and persevere through adversity.

I think of inspiring examples of strength and courage through adversity that encourage us all to dig deeper and persevere through hardship . . . examples like the Paralympians and the Special Olympians. . . . examples like Joannie Rochette at the 2010 Olympics and John Coughlin at the 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Jeff MacGregor talks about “our idea of ourselves” . . . “the irreducible human gesture at the center of modern sports.” He says:

This we call hope. This is what keeps us alive. This is how we persist. This is why sports are important.

Even now.

Note: Here’s an article from Time on “How You Can Help the Earthquake and Tsunami Victims in Japan.”

Photo Credit: Image by mxi/Dane at Flickr Creative Commons.

Filed Under: Encouragement, Inspiration Tagged With: 2011 World Figure Skating Championships, devastation in Japan, Japan and the Vanishing Point, Joannie Rochette, John Coughlin, sports, sports are important

“Hug Your Mom Today” Inspiration from @JohnCoughlinUSA

February 4, 2011 By Deb Chitwood 11 Comments

Along with heartbreaking stories, the 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships had some of the most inspirational figure-skating stories in recent history … such as the refreshing comebacks of Alissa Czisny and Ryan Bradley….

But, without a doubt, my favorite story and inspiration from the 2011 Nationals was John Coughlin and Caitlin Yankowskas’ emotional free skate and win in senior pairs.

Last March, in one of my first blog posts, I wrote about John and his late mother, Stacy, in “A Parent’s Influence Lasts Forever.”

Even if everyone is talking about how emotionally moving John and Caitlin’s performance was … how their long program to “Ave Maria” was a tribute to John’s mom … how important John’s mom was in John’s skating career … how John’s mom encouraged John and Ryan Bradley to keep skating … how John tweeted “hug your mom today” the day of the long program … how John and Caitlin poured heart and soul into their performance … how John placed his face in Caitlin’s hand and wept at the end of the program … I can only say:

I CAN’T HEAR IT ENOUGH. I still can’t watch the video of John and Caitlin’s National’s long program all the way through without getting teary-eyed. I don’t want to forget how important it is to hug your mom, your dad, your children, your husband or wife, your brothers and sisters, your grandparents, everyone who’s important in your life … how winning is wonderful, but family is so much more important…..

If you haven’t seen the performance that moved so many to tears, here it is:

“To Live in Hearts” Word-Art Freebie in memory of John’s mom, Stacy Coughlin.

Blog post by my son, Will, from the perspective of a friend/coach/former competitor: “Inspiration from the 2011 U.S. Pairs Champions, Caitlin Yankowskas and John Coughlin.”

Some of my thoughts on sports and family: “Don’t Forget Family.”

Filed Under: Inspiration, Parents' Role Tagged With: 2011 U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Alissa Czisny, Ave Maria, Caitlin Yankowskas, family, hug your mom today, Inspiration, John Coughlin, Ryan Bradley, senior pairs, Stacy Coughlin

A Parent’s Influence Lasts Forever

March 10, 2010 By Deb Chitwood Leave a Comment

There are two lasting bequests we can give our children: One is roots, the other is wings.
- Hodding Carter

As parents, it’s easy to get caught up in our role as chauffeurs when our children are young. It’s harder to keep in mind just how important we always are in our children’s lives—even when they’ve grown into independent adults.

Joannie Rochette during the Olympic medal ceremony. (Photo by Liz Chastney)

We need to remember that our children are influenced by us forever. I think we were all moved by Joannie Rochette’s strength of character and heartwarming Olympic programs as she successfully coped with her grief over her mother’s recent death. Joannie said in one NBC interview that her mother taught her something important that helped her compete at the Olympics:

“When you do something in life, give it your best shot.”

In another NBC interview, Joannie said that her mom taught her to be tough. There was no doubt about Joannie’s toughness during the 2010 Olympics. Joannie skated beautifully, winning the bronze medal. More important, though, I’m sure her mother smiled as Joannie lived what she had been taught.

Caitlin Yankowskas and John Coughlin at Four Continents Championships.

Although not quite as famous as Joannie Rochette, John Coughlin is a figure skater who exemplifies his mother’s positive influence and is loved by many. Caitlin Yankowskas and John Coughlin were 6^th in senior pairs at the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and 4^th at the 2010 Four Continents Championships.

Despite her recent death, John’s mother will live on in memory at skating events through John’s actions. Stacy Coughlin was an extremely nice woman and skating mom. Stacy’s obituary contained a fitting statement of her values: