This comeback makes a lot more sense if you understand basic science. When she fell, she lost a huge amount of potential energy. It is roughly the amount of energy the entire planet exerts via gravity. She converted this nearly infinite amount of force into kinetic energy, boosting herself forward for the win!
That doesn't even begin to make sense, she didn't lose any potential energy, as it was converted into kinetic as she fell, it then was released in friction with the ground and the air. She either had a large adrenaline rush or was a better runner.
I first saw this video when it first came out a few years ago. I thought it was so powerful as a runner myself, that I spread it to so many people. I am now running a very, very long race. I got married in April, and my wife left me for another man just a few months later. Everything seems to be going against me; everyone says I'll never get her back, but I have the strength, the endurance, and the mental toughness (and let's not forget my faith that God can and will restore) to finish my race as the victor!! It's been a very long time since I've watched something that made me cry, but this video is so symbolic. :) Congrats to Heather for winning her race!!
I'm so sorry about your circumstance. It breaks my heart. I think it was Nietzsche who said, "That which doesn't kill me makes me stronger." You will suffer, but it's getting through that suffering that you gain perspective, gain knowledge, gain power. It's unimaginably hard. I wish you the best of luck. Stay strong.
Andrew Canton Thank you, Andrew! I don't take the easy way out, because that only works in the short run. I take the hard way out, because in the long run, I will come out victorious!!
@Matthew Martin so sorry man! Can’t imagine the pain you have suffered. But “take her back”? The person who left you for whatever reasons , why would you strive to take that same person back? Love is complicated, we all get it. But no matter what the circumstances leaving you for someone else is clearly advertising her depth of love or lack thereof. Hope you found true soulmate by now. Good luck in life brother
Just after the race starts the commentator said that Heather Dorniden came second in this race the previous year, so from that point of view Heather has to be given praise for at least having a second attempt, let alone what would eventually happen to place her last at the final lap & to have the courage & strength to get back up & win by a nose is a brilliant achievement against all odds.
It appears that Dorniden not only tripped and fell but the runner behind her inadvertently kicks her head or steps on her hair, making this comeback even more incredible.
RU-vid has a super motivational video clip of a young runner, Heather Dorniden from the University of Minnesota, competing in a 600-meter race in 2008 against Penn State. While jostling for first place, Dorniden gets tangled up with another runner and falls to the ground as the last lap begins. Remarkably, Heather gets to her feet and wins the race with a dramatic lunge for the tape. Coaches can teach you ways of conditioning your body, how to swing your arms, and the importance of mixing up race tactics. There isn’t a coach in the world, however, who can teach you to position your heart and mind to pull off such an improbable triumph. Heather was so focused on winning that she naturally got back up and kept running with every ounce of strength and energy she had. Quitting wasn’t in her playbook, so she didn’t waste a single second considering Plan B. Had she done so, she wouldn’t have won. That indomitable, single-minded will to succeed ultimately derives from soul power, the essence of who we are and what we want to be. Aristotle said, we are what we repeatedly do, so get habituated to giving your absolute best in every situation, and eventually that will become your default position. When the imposition of adolescent discipline turns into the self-discipline of adulthood, you are primed for lasting success. Heather Dorniden powerfully reminds us that life is not about the number of breaths we take, but the number of moments that take our breath away. Extract from 'The Successful (Less Stressful) Student' by Coach L.
This is what separates the good athletes from the GR8 athletes. I know most would have gotten up to just finish and some would have walked it off in the last lap of a 600. She got up to WIN. This video brings a tear to me every time I watch it. It's the rare quality so few young athletes have today, desire. It begins and ends with hard work and dedication and stays with you in everything you do in life after. Heather Dorniden is a remarkable young lady and a terrific role model of humility. Thanks For The Moment !!!!
Still the most inspirational thing I've seen in my life. To hell with giving up! To quote Prefontaine "Somebody may beat me, but they're gonna have to bleed to do it."
The obstacle she encounter was a huge setback, and she definitely didn't go the I'm hurt and I quit mode! She BELIEVED and showed us nothing impossible with a made up mind! Her desire to finish speaks volumes! This girl was on fire! She was focused and kept moving forward! Once again this is proof if your determine and have that passion to be ferocious in battle, you'll definitely be magnanimous in Victory! She's Dedicated, She's Courageous, and She's Unstoppable! Her name is Heather Dorniden.
its the amazing presence of mind and never say die attitude of this great athlete which was in display more than her abilities as an athlete! i think we can take a bit from Heather and apply it for ourselves! I was also impressed with her cool reaction after the race....i expected someone to do a 'gaga' after such a recovery, but not her!!!!! fantastic human being!
Could this become by accident a new technique in track where a runner would stop for a few seconds, rest, then speed ahead and have a greater chance of winning? This is amazing to see! Did Heather ever explain what came over her to try to grasp what happened? Thanks Brian Pisciotti for all the work it takes to post a video on RU-vid!
No one is making excuses, I think the people who lost would agree that Dorniden's comeback was extraordinary, none of them would claim that they deserved to win that over her. But that doesn't mean that they shouldn't stick up for themselves. 1:35 is a fine time, the girls are running at the DI level so it's safe to say they're all pretty fantastic athletes. I really don't understand why you're so sure that the other girls are terrible athletes because someone out there is better than them.
I go to Mc Kinley Elementry in 6th grade and I'm in the 600 meter and I recorded myself running and I looked so weird and then I saw how they ran and I'm like ok I'm not the only one who runs like that and I get tired really easily and I'm so nervous for the westside relays so this gave me lots of inspiration! Plus its my last year at that school and I wanna get at least 1st or 3rd I don't want to get last lets just pray I at least get 2nd :)
I never said she is a terrible athlete. I said that she should be ashamed at her effort in this race. The other girl simply wanted it more "in this particular race." I am being critical because I assume that these ladies can run better races than they showed in this video, but for whatever reason they did not. I'm not convinced that they gave full effort.
In all seriousness - good on her! Maybe this event was the kick in the butt that she needed. Honestly, if I were a professional athlete, I'd be embarrassed as hell to lose in this manner at a big event (and then see the video go viral on the web).
this shows us all that anything is possible, believe in yourself and come back fighting like a champ!! you are all better than this!! don't listen to anybody trying to knock you down on your ass just because they are a loser does not mean you have to go their way too but instead suck it up and keep fighting for your right!!
that just shows how few energy of our body we are actually using. she probably had so much adrenaline pumping through her that moment that she could sprint at maximum speed the rest of the track. imagine someone could use all his potential from the very beginning on. wed have people run 100 metres in 6-7 seconds then
Yes, this is very moving. But amazing? Maybe not. The announcer was saying how good she was and the races she had been winning. Also, this was a "heat" so that meant that it was a qualifier for the final. So maybe she was much faster than the other girls but was just running fast evough to be sure she qualified until the fall happened. Then we saw what she was truly capable of. I think this is more likely than her acquiring speed that she never had before. My .02
