Three Sports, One Great Mindset
Leif LaMothe Gee reflects on a hat-trick, a knee-slide, and the daily task of discipline.
Can you tell us about the sport you're involved in?
I am a dedicated three-sport athlete, playing soccer in the fall, basketball during the winter, and ultimate frisbee in the spring. I am a striker in soccer, the point-guard in basketball, a handler in ultimate frisbee, as well as a captain for all three teams. Outside of my team sports, I also enjoy weightlifting and entirely recreational ping-pong.
Talk about your sports journey and any athlete role model you have.
I’ve played soccer for as long as I can remember, and it’s definitely been an integral part of my upbringing. In fifth grade, I expanded my athletic pursuits by adding basketball and ultimate frisbee, and I’ve been committed to both ever since. At least in soccer and basketball, I’ve always drawn inspiration from the greats. I grew up as a superfan of Lionel Messi and Steph Curry and they, to me, were role models I could emulate and use as motivation throughout my middle and high school years.
Tell us about your favorite moment, memory, or milestone thus far in your athletic journey.
One of my most cherished athletic milestones came during my sophomore year when I scored my first hat-trick in our homecoming soccer game. I can still vividly recall the moment of that third goal, celebrating with what I’d call a professional-caliber knee-slide toward the fan section on the side of the field. In addition, that game became a turning point in my soccer career. It boosted my confidence and marked the beginning of a more prolific scoring streak that carried on for the rest of the season and into the next.
Are there any specific values you've gained by playing sports?
Through sports, I have learned the true meaning of discipline: the daily choice to dedicate myself fully to a purpose beyond immediate comfort. This commitment is forged by the non-negotiable structure of practice. It demands that you maintain consistent commitment regardless of mood, cultivating a foundational habit of responsibility and resilience regardless of frame of mind or circumstance. For me, as a result of this un-yielding structure, sports have become a meditative practice. The field and court are places where personal concerns, grievances, and complaints are temporarily silenced and set aside in the singular pursuit of bettering myself.