People often avoid new challenges because they are afraid of failure.

Even when someone has an exciting idea or dreams of accomplishing something extraordinary, fear quietly appears:

“What if I fail?”

And once that fear grows strong enough, many people choose not to try at all.

The same thing happens in sports.

Every competition creates winners and losers.

If an athlete constantly thinks, “What if we lose?” or “We probably can’t beat this opponent,” pressure begins to take over, and it becomes difficult to perform at full strength.

At the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Japan entered the tournament carrying enormous expectations.

For the first time since the second WBC in 2009, Japan was considered a true favorite to become world champion again.

And this time, several Japanese Major Leaguers—including Shohei Ohtani—were participating.

When asked whether he felt pressure before the tournament, Ohtani answered honestly.

He first admitted that he had never experienced the WBC before, so he did not yet know what kind of pressure it would bring.

Then he added:

“I don’t imagine what it would be like to lose. Until you actually lose, you don’t really know what that fear feels like. And if you win, winning is fun. Either way, you won’t know until you experience it.”

This mindset has always defined Ohtani.

When he decided to leave Japan for Major League Baseball, he also spoke more about excitement than fear.

Rather than worrying about failure before even beginning, he focuses on growth, possibility, and giving everything he has.

For Ohtani, the important thing is not avoiding defeat.

The important thing is stepping onto the field and fully challenging yourself.

That is why he continues to accomplish things that once seemed impossible.

Source

This quote comes from a Japanese book published in Japan and is not currently available in English.

Number 1069, p.12