Written by If there was ever an example of a sporting legend that displayed an unprecedented degree of persistence and determination it would be the mountaineer Edward Whymper. There can be no doubt, in the mind of sports coaches, over the importance regarding the part that persistence and determination play in helping to deliver performances that achieve highly desired goals. It was the former USA President Calvin Coolidge who stated that persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.
However, to achieve an outcome that might have been considered impossible at the time requires more than just persistence and determination. To conquer the Matterhorn, as Whymper did in 1865, also took a great deal of skill, fitness, resilience, self belief and the help of other mountaineers. Although Whymper was the leader it took a team of skilled supporters to put him on the summit. It was his responsibility as the leader to ensure that all members of the team, including himself, had the abilities needed for the challenge.
In preparation for his ascent of the Matterhorn Whymper climbed, in one month, the Grand Cornier, Dent Blanche, Grand Jorasses, Col Dolent, Aiguille Verte and the Col De Taléfre. He also walked over 400 miles in the process. Whymper recognised that the skills and fitness required for his long held dream needed to match the challenge ahead. Many, at the time, did not believe the Matterhorn could be climbed and that demons inhabited the summit. Whymper, however, did believe and with a team of eight climbers finally conquered the mountain.
Whymper’s successful performance in scaling the Matterhorn is a testament to his persistence and determination. This first successful ascent of the mountain was preceded by no fewer than seven previous unsuccessful attempts. He persisted and persisted until, as all great leaders do, he found a way to the summit. The whole team spent an hour on the peak celebrating before beginning the descent. However, whilst the ascent was successful the descent was a human disaster. Of the eight climbers in the original party that set out four fell to a certain death from over 4000 feet.
High on the mountain, scared and lacking the skills needed for this level of challenge, young Douglas Haddow slipped and fell. Consequently, three of the party roped to Haddow were pulled off the rock face and the rope, securing them to the other four members of the team, snapped. Peter Taugwalder, the Swiss mountain guide, was originally blamed for using the weakest hemp rope to secure the climbers. Whymper’s leadership was also questioned for not ensuring that the resources that they used were fit for purpose.
Although Whymper’s performance achieved the intended goal – that is, he made the summit of the Matterhorn and returned safely to Zermatt – the tragedy of losing four members of the team meant that celebrations were not possible. Whymper never recovered from the event and warned others to ‘do nothing in haste; look well to each step; and from the beginning think what may be the end.’ He was warning all sports leaders to consider potential problems in any project and the possible consequences of failure such that contingency plans can be made. The one thing Whymper will be remembered for, however, was his persistence and determination in achieving a lifetime dream.
Persistence and determination, it must be said, are not possessions owned by a leader. Although these attributes, often quoted as characteristics found in great sports leaders and athletes, they are emergent traits forged in the deep subconscious. Persistence and determination, like resilience, evolve out of what we value and believe possible. The more we value the outcome, and truly believe it possible, the more determination we will have and the more we will persist in trying to attain our cherished dream.
As Jean Paul Sartre argued – ‘we value what we choose to do.’ Whymper wanted, above all else, to be the first to conquer the Matterhorn. He was competing against Jean-Antoine Carrel, an Italian mountain guide whom he feared might defeat him – it was a race. A former guide for Whymper now became the adversary. Valuing something very highly, however, is not enough to fire such determination. In order to achieve the seemingly impossible Whymper also had to believe with the same intensity that he had the ability, resources and support to achieve his dream.
The lesson for all sports leaders and athletes from this is evident. Persistence and determination are not omnipotent. Whilst they are undoubtedly extremely important factors, it is the desire born out of what we value most, our self confidence that derives from our abilities, resources available to us and the support we have from others that will determine outcomes. Whymper prepared by developing his mountaineering skills and fitness. He had the resources and support from a team of mountain guides. More importantly he had the desire born from his competitive nature, what he valued most of all in life and an unswerving belief in himself that he could conquer the Matterhorn.
Hindsight is a great teacher and had Whymper carried out some potential problem analysis the conquest of the Matterhorn might have been one of the greatest sporting achievements in British history. Taking a young inexperienced climber against his better judgement was a mistake. Ensuring the ropes were of the required standard might have prevented the catastrophic accident. He took his eye off the ball in celebrating at the summit when placing a note of all the names in a bottle just as the rest of the team started their descent.
Edward Whymper will always be remembered as the first mountaineer to conquer the Matterhorn. He prepared well for the ascent and nobody could argue that he lacked persistence and determination. His own performance as a climber was outstanding, as was that of his main mountaineering guides. He has left a rich legacy of learning for sports leaders and athletes. Hence focus on what you value, prepare well by developing your skills, fitness and life style such that you can believe in yourself and achieve your dreams. Finally, we should all think ahead by planning for the worst and giving whatever you do your very best shot!