After an intense stretch of writing through November and December, I found myself needing to step back from my book. I didn’t write a single page during the Christmas holidays. It felt necessary—time to clear my mind and regain perspective.
Today, though, I finally returned to it. The freezing conditions outside gave me the perfect excuse to stay indoors, and with the kids happily occupied with their activities, I decided it was time to revisit one of the chapters my friend Shaun had suggested I develop further.
In this chapter, I’ve woven in the story of Ian Wynne’s remarkable Olympic final.
Ian’s journey to the 2004 Athens Games was already impressive, but what unfolded just before the K1 500m final was unforgettable. After injuring his ankle in an accident the night before the race, most would have doubted whether he could even compete, let alone medal. Yet Ian’s grit shone through. With his ankle strapped and barely able to walk, he battled not just the pain but some of the best paddlers in the world.
Against all odds, he delivered an extraordinary performance, surging from sixth to third in the final 200 meters to claim an Olympic bronze medal.
For me, Ian’s story is a reminder of the strength we all have within us—the ability to push through challenges, even when the odds seem stacked against us. Revisiting this chapter today reminded me why I started this book in the first place: to celebrate the stories that inspire and ignite something in us all.
*You can download all the other chapters that I have shared on my blog: https://ekaitzsaies.com/blog-posts/
EKAITZ SAIES 
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