Tiếng Việt
I once watched a podcast interviewing Raimonds Tomsons, the ASI World’s Best Sommelier 2024, who hails from Latvia—a Baltic nation not typically associated with wine heritage. Raimonds’ journey to the top was anything but easy. He competed in the World’s Best Sommelier competition four times, with his third attempt in 2019 culminating in a third-place finish. For many, reaching the finals of such a prestigious competition would be a monumental achievement. However, Raimonds considered it as his failure. However, after this failure, he realized his weakness in mental health, exacerbated by the immense pressure and expectations he faced. The weight of it all nearly drove him to abandon his pursuit and seek a different path.
But that changed during the gala following the 2019 awards ceremony. Raimonds crossed paths with Andrea Lassons, the 2007 World’s Best Sommelier, who offered encouragement and invaluable advice at the right time. One phrase stuck with Raimonds: “Just consider doing it one more time.”
Raimonds returned home with a renewed sense of purpose, determined to compete once more time. He shared his decision with his wife, who supported him but with one condition: the Paris competition would be his last. Driven by this final chance, Raimonds poured his heart and soul into his preparation, waking up at 5:30 a.m. every day to study theory. Yet, few knew that his wife had taken him to see a psychologist to help him manage the intense stress.
This time, Raimonds approached the competition differently. He made a conscious effort to savor every moment of the Paris competition week, from the exquisite cuisine to each part of the competition he faced. He aimed to create the best memories on stage, free from the burdens of expectation. And his perseverance paid off: Raimonds was crowned the World’s Best Sommelier in 2024.
Success has never been easy. Losing a round doesn’t mean you’ve lost the entire game. If you find yourself on the brink of giving up, feeling that your efforts haven’t yet yielded the desired results, remember the story of Raimonds Tomsons. Consider doing it one more time, and make a remarkable performance in your life.
Phuong Maxy
