Going the Distance with Rocky Balboa

“He took his best shot and became champ. What shot did you ever take?” — Rocky Balboa

Not too long ago, I rewatched the first Rocky film. For those who aren’t in the know, Rocky is a boxing film written by Sylvester Stallone which won best picture in 1976. The story itself follows the titular character of Rocky Balboa, a small-time Philadelphia boxer, who is given the chance of a lifetime when the world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed gives him an opportunity to earn the title of world champion through a bout.

Nearly 50 years after the release of the first movie, Rocky still continues to inspire countless people around the world because of its simple, yet inspirational message of “go the distance”. Initially, Rocky was lost, feeling jaded and unsatisfied working as the muscle for a loan shark. He had no dream to work for and lacked the self confidence to believe that he could rise above his rough environment, destined to be the bum that most people thought he was. Despite having the desire within himself to make something of his life, Rocky’s doubts about his abilities prevented him from working towards that desire. Day after day, he would come home only to see that he was no better than the day before, making him feel emptier inside and fueling his longing for purpose. Rocky wanted to change himself, but it wasn’t until he began to take action that he actually began to improve.

Despite overwhelming obstacles, Rocky persists with unwavering resilience. When presented with the opportunity to contend for the heavyweight boxing championship, though he’s deemed an unlikely victor, he resolves to “go the distance”: 15 rounds. This recurring theme underscores life’s adversities and the pivotal importance of resilience in shaping one’s character. Rocky’s iconic training sequences, accompanied by the stirring theme “Gonna Fly Now,” have become emblematic representations of perseverance. They emphasize that achievement isn’t solely reliant on innate ability but on diligent effort and steadfast commitment to one’s aspirations. This ethos of steadfast determination, even in the face of daunting challenges, has served as an inspiration for countless individuals in surmounting their own hurdles. And even when victory isn’t achieved, Rocky shows us that victory doesn’t necessarily have to be the same as success and achievement. Just as the films often emphasize, we are our own biggest obstacles. Failure happen once we’ve given up, but success is achieved when we are able to go further than what we believed possible for ourselves. This is what it means to “go the distance”. Although Rocky may not have achieved victory against Apollo, he achieved victory against himself.

Rocky admired Apollo, not just because Apollo was the champ, but because Apollo had a clear sense of purpose in his life, something that Rocky himself didn’t have. Rocky learned that he needed to take his own shot, push his limits, and take a risk to achieve something meaningful if he wanted to find the sense of purpose he had been looking for. In spite of his doubts and his lack of self worth, Rocky dared to enter the ring, showing a profound understanding that his worth transcended external judgments. Despite facing adversity and societal labels, he possessed an unwavering conviction that he held inherent value. Eager to dispel misconceptions and validate his own worth, he ventured into the arena with determination. Despite grappling with uncertainty, he confronted his doubts and insecurities head-on, driven by an unshakeable belief in his belonging and his readiness to wholeheartedly commit to the challenge before him.

Success isn’t about victory or defeat. You may believe that you’ve failed when not getting something right, having a setback towards your goals, but that’s not true. True failure is giving up. Giving up means that you did not give yourself the chance to actually go the distance and see what you were actually capable of. Many people may decide to not take action and to play things safe, to not work towards something because they fear what others may think of them and what will happen when they don’t succeed. However, the film shows us that there is still much to be gained from trying — if you give something your all, you will always have the satisfaction of knowing that you did your best. And that, in and of itself, is victory.