How role models inspire success in sports and beyond
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In 1998, Se-Ri Pak, a golfer from South Korea, sparked a surge in the sport among young women after winning major international tournaments.
Her success showed ordinary Koreans that a career in golf was attainable, leading to a wave of young players nicknamed “Se-Ri Kids.” Twenty years later, South Korean women dominated international golf, winning 15 of 33 events organised by the LPGA. This phenomenon extends beyond golf.
In Kenya, Kipchoge Keino’s unexpected victory at the 1968 Olympics inspired a generation of long-distance runners. Before Keino, Europeans and North Americans largely dominated the sport, but his win demonstrated Kenyan potential and drew aspiring runners to training hubs like Iten and Eldoret. Similarly, in Haryana, India, the daughters of former male wrestlers became national champions, encouraging more girls to take up the sport.
Anirudh Krishna’s book explores how relatable role models, people from similar backgrounds, motivate others by making success seem achievable. Seeing these figures in everyday life, whether at the supermarket or a local track meet, reinforces the idea that excellence is within reach and encourages participation, as seen with the increase in regional development meets in Jamaica after the establishment of local athletics clubs.
