Dare to Dream, Prove to Achieve: An Afternoon with Victor Kovalenko, the Medal Maker

YachtingPortrait

Jul 15

With 2024 Paris Olympic games just around the corner, I finally had the opportunity to spend an afternoon with the "medal maker" in the photo studio.

Imagine this: 11 Olympic medals, seven of them gold, 20 world championship titles, and countless podium finishes at continental championships. Sailing is one of the most complex disciplines at the Olympic Games.

Victor and I share a friendship that spans over a decade. We have spent many days on the regatta course, but we never really had time to talk.
During this afternoon, we discovered that we share three common passions. Sailing is obvious, but Victor is also a passionate photographer, and we both keenly observe what is happening around us, both as a coach and as a photographer.

Victor now is the master coach of the Australian Olympic Sailing Team, and in the past twenty years, his athletes have won everything there is to win.

In life, we all have highs and lows. We work hard and sometimes believe we could have achieved more. Finding balance is very difficult at the moment, but in retrospect, it’s easier and helps us understand our strengths and set our focus correctly.

We observed countless athletes who entered the World Cup series, climbed the ladder, and some have gotten stuck. What makes the difference?

Victor's coaching philosophy mirrors his remarkable journey—from a Soviet sportsman to the "medal maker" we know today. He has a very simple and clear approach: there are three types of Olympic competitors:

Dreamers: Some athletes come to the Olympics with the dream of standing on the podium but don’t fully believe in it.

Hopers: Others hope for a medal, but their expectations are cautious.

Provers: The most fascinating category are those who come to the Olympics not merely to dream or hope but to prove to the world who they are and win there gold.

Beyond the Olympic Arena: For me, this approach goes beyond the world of sports. In our daily lives, we are constantly distracted, and sometimes it’s challenging to keep the focus on what matters. In a world where social media amplifies dreams and hopes, we risk losing the passion, strength, and unwavering commitment to turn hopes into reality.

Many dare to dream. how many hope? And how many truly commit to proving their podium?

One question has been on my mind for years:

How does such a successful coach inspire his athletes to reach their goals?

“Show them the light and lead them there. It takes skills, passion, and knowledge. As a photographer, you have some experience with light,” he says with a smile.

The portraits we took that afternoon reveal a deep and intimate side of this Olympic legend.

“TRUST YOURSELF AND FOLLOW YOUR DREAM”

Thank you, Victor, for this personal and insightful afternoon.