By Monika Platek » He has been throwing baseballs since he learned how to ties his shoes. The baseball field is practically his second home. His talent has taken him on travels across North America, to the Caribbean, and on more bus trips than you can imagine. And now, Jonathan Lockwood has just returned after starring in Canada’s ultimately unsuccessful bid at the World Cup of Baseball in Taiwan.
Canada fell just short of making the medal round, edged 7-6 by Australia in their final game. Lockwood though had a solid tournament, allowing three runs on four hits and three strikeouts in that crucial game.
The Toronto native is a pitcher with speed, skill, and confidence. We wanted to find out how this athlete stays at the top of his game.
Have you played in a tournament of World Cup calibre before?
I’ve been very lucky because this is my third time playing for Team Canada. The two events before this were Olympic qualifying tournaments. One of them was in Arizona and the latest one was in Cuba in 2006. I hope the Beijing Olympics are next on the list!
How does it feel to represent your country?
It’s such a great feeling to stand on the mound, look down at your jersey, and see the word “Canada” there. It’s a real honour to walk down the street in another country and know that you’re representing the best country in the world. It also makes us stronger as a team because we share a lot of cultural similarities – even something as simple as cheering for the same Canadian hockey team.
What kind of attitude does it take to win?
It’s an attitude that every player on the team has to bring to the field. Every person has to know their role and do their part – no matter how big or small. We don’t focus on our mistakes but we learn from them quickly. It’s all about team chemistry too. We play hackie sack before games and we even play our own version of hockey with baseball bats and water bottles. Yes, the other teams do laugh at us! We obviously want to succeed and win games, but we also want to have fun and bond with our teammates.
Any advice for other athletes?
Regardless of the level you’re at, or the calibre of sport you’re playing, you should always be proud of where you are. It’s not always about winning. It’s about letting sports mould you and teach you the value of teamwork and leadership.
Where do you get your confidence from when you’re pitching at an important game?
Thinking about my friends and family is a great boost of confidence for me. I can feel their support from miles away. That foundation of self-knowledge combined with caring about your audience will ensure you’re always connected to your source and you will not only blow your audiences away, you’ll walk away refuelled and re-energized rather than drained.
• Monika Platek is the host and producer of ME-TV, a weekly show about current events and amazing people on Rogers Television Mississauga. She is also a motivational speaker with a focus on boosting confidence. |
