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Olympic Moms: Jean Brown – A message to Myles our son

July 24, 2016 Published by: Cresi Heslop

Jean Brown, mom of Olympic Swimmer Myles Brown shares with compassion the wonderful principles that they as a family have always believed in and provided as a basis for Myles. This just shows again that nurturing the deep treasures within our children of respect, self worth, faith, hard work and dedication are the cornerstones for success.

The achievement of an Olympic dream is not just an isolated event. It is a journey that is so seeped in love and support by family, that when it actually happens one can clearly look back and say oh yes, the signs of greatness and preparation for the world stage was there all along.

Jean writes:

“To Myles our Son,

To say that you have made us proud would be too small a way of recognizing such great achievement. You work ethos and your dedication astounds us. Your humility and respect for your fellows leaves us in awe. Your love and your loyalty overwhelm us and your success amazes us.

After all these years of training, sacrifice, trials and tribulations, you set upon the path to realize your lifelong dream. But as you embark on this phase of your particular journey, we want you to take cognizance of a few things:

• We recognize that you have grown into such a fine young man, who would make any parent’s heart swell with pride.

• This is your journey and whilst we have always helped your steer the bus, this final part is for you to enjoy. We will be there to support from the stands.

• Whatever you achieve, bear in mind the lessons you have learned along the way and continue to value them for the parts they are in the person you have become.

• Never lose sight of your star and remember if you do not reach for it you have no hope of grasping it.

• Stay true to who and what you are and remember the wisdom you have attained as you have grown to this point.

• Believe in yourself always. Human beings are incredible animals capable of the most outstanding achievements – only the non-believers do not achieve. You can so you will.

• Remember that we love you more than you could ever imagine and we wish you all the gold at the end of your rainbow and regardless, we will be there to celebrate with you.

• Travel safe Big Guy and enjoy this for all the joy you can get out of it. Stay happy, stay focused and good luck from the very bottom of our hearts”.

SEE YOU IN RIO!!

Love

Dad and Mom

Academics Africa Build me a son Faith Frank Home Interviews Our Sons Proudly South African Sharks Soccer Sports

Fresh & Hungry: Frank Heslop

May 9, 2015 Published by: Cresi Heslop

Introduction

I have decided to do a series of interviews with our young athletes called “Fresh & hungry”. These interviews will feature the “older” young athletes. I will be asking a few more in depth questions compared to the questions asked to the younger athletes in the “Meet the Young Athletes” series. The Fresh & hungry questions will hopefully give some insight into the minds of these young athletes and maybe even reveal a few secrets for us to learn from.

First up in our Fresh & Hungry Series, I speak to Frank Heslop born 26 March 1996, up-and-coming young footballer, ex-swimming champs medallist and dedicated academic, blogger, who currently attends the Sharks Soccer Academy in Durban. He is a Cambridge University matric graduate – class of 2013, currently first year Varsity College student, studying B.Com and Jesus follower.

Read on to see what stirs this young man and what his plans hold for the future……

Interview:

So Frank, you just turned 18, how does that make you feel?

I am not going to lie, I am starting to feel quite old and that time is slowly running away.

You are passionate about your football, tell me a little bit about your football journey up to now.

It has been an amazing journey, from starting out in football and developing a passion for the game. I started out playing club football and then I realised that I want a career in football so I joined an academy and I am still in an academy, so thus far I am living the dream as many people would love to have the opportunity that I have. Football has allowed me to travel in the past, I will always treasure my trip to Brazil a few years back, and hopefully it will allow me to travel in the future.

You matriculated at the age of 16, how did that make you feel and how did it affect your football?

At that stage the midnight oil was my best buddy! Finishing school early allowed me to focus on my football and take my time with important decisions to make sure that the decisions I make were the best decisions possible.

What are you currently pursuing or what isn’t happening yet that you’re interested in making happen?

I told you, I am feeling quite old now at 18 so I feel it is time for me to break into some professional teams and move on to bigger things such as playing oversees.

Beside your football, what do you have a passion for?

I have a passion for human performance, I want to know what allows people’s bodies to perform the way it does. I am also always trying to figure out how people become or have become good at what they do, I do not fully believe in natural talent. I believe that is either their environment or their hard work that allows them to become so good.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

My father always says “You have to see yourself there (Overseas)”. My Grandfather says “Never give up”. I love this because this is what will determine whether I make it in football or not. Whether I go through ups or downs these two words of advice will determine if I succeed.

How do you currently manage to balance all the things in your life?

You will hear it all the time and it is no secret “Hard Work and Determination”. If I do not work hard I will not make it.

You have been living away from home since the age of 14 – what life lessons have you learned in this regard?

Firstly I have realised how much I need my family. They are the reason I am where I am. They are my motivation. Secondly life is not fair and if you lack even the slightest bit of confidence you will not succeed. Being away has really helped me put my trust in Jesus to deliver me from all circumstances, and trust me He has come through.

Family time

Fun with my baby-bro!

I see you often post stuff from Eric Thomas – “the hip hop preacher”, do you feel influenced by his life story?

Yeah because he has failed for so long and has never given up. It took him 12 years to get a 4 year degree, so he understands what it feels like to persevere. Many people would not even last 2 years yet he lasted 12. That is not even his full testimony. I love that he uses his testimony to change people’s lives. I love that he stands strong in his faith in Jesus.

Do you think that sports can be a ministry tool by which the lost can be reached?

Yes I do. I believe that sports is a platform to reach out to the lost and preach the Gospel. The whole world watches sports and many people look up to sportsmen and women so therefore they can make an impact on souls.

Tell me one thing about Frank David Heslop that the world does not know?

I enjoy eating bunny chows an Indian dishes.

Down time!

I’m sure you have many things going on right now, what’s to be expected next from Frank Heslop?

I am looking forward to the future, I am seeing some huge things happening and I believe that the right doors will open up. I have huge dreams and I believe soon I will be living out these dreams.

Thank you Frank for speaking to me in this interview. I wish you all the very best blessings for your academic and sports endeavours, and would love to follow your progress and plans for the future.

Blog Posts Written by Frank here:

http://heslopsports.co.za/wp/the-love-language-of-sports/

http://heslopsports.co.za/wp/opportunities-by-frank-heslop/

http://heslopsports.co.za/wp/for-the-love-of-the-game/

Frank in action:

Check out Frank’s Skills on You Tube here

Sea Vacations are the best!

Never found without my footie

Training Time at Sharks

I am looking forward to the future, I am seeing some huge things happening and I believe that the right doors will open up. I have huge dreams and I believe soon I will be living out these dreams. Frank

Build me a son Frank Home Our Sons Proudly South African Sharks Soccer Sports

For The Love Of The Game

January 11, 2015 Published by: Frank

For The Love Of The Game by Frank David Heslop

Check out Frank’s Skills on You Tube here

I thought quite hard on how I should start off and what I should write about in my first essay and then it hit me. I thought let me start with how I started off in sport.

I remember as a child why I used to play the beautiful game. It was never about achieving anything great in the beginning, yet I trained so damn hard as if I was trying to achieve something though. On the journey of becoming a sportsman (high school years), I started on a high note but then I suddenly reached a tough patch. I have had some tough fighting, situations that I could not see myself overcoming. The thought of giving up would sometimes find its way into my thoughts, but I always had great people in my life to keep me going.

I would fall down and pick myself up again and again, with the help of my great family. Yet one thing I did not learn was to overcome the disappointment and anger of falling. Falling is the best way to learn and develop. However one needs to learn to fall without hurting oneself so badly that it takes too long to recover. This was the biggest problem with me at the time: that when I fell it would take something valuable away from me and I would either not recover properly or take too long to recover.

So to get back to the point of why I used to play the beautiful game as a child. It was because I loved playing it. I had no one telling me that I should give up because I am not good enough and even if I did I would not even care because I was playing the game for the right reason, because I loved it. I did not care about the coach’s or anyone’s opinion, I just wanted to play because it brought me joy. I could spend hours outside or in the yard kicking the ball around because of the love I had for the game.

Now whenever you in a tough patch in your sports career, remember why you started playing the sport in the first place and try to play it exactly the same way that you did as a child, with joy and happiness. Then when you fall, you will fall with joy and even though you might get hurt falling you will always be able to get back up. Picture a baby trying to transition from crawling to walking, they will fall a thousand times, sometimes they laugh and sometimes they cry but they will always fall just hard enough to pick themselves back up again.

My final words are the most important of all from 1 John 4:7-8. It says; “Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love”. At the end of this scripture it says that “God is love” meaning that if you play with love and for love, you are playing with God and for God because He is love and He has created love. So that feeling you get whenever you feel as if you enjoying the sport or game so much that you say you love it, that is God right by you guiding you because you are playing with Him by your side.