Three times Olympic Gold medallist Adam Peaty has been speaking recently about some of the challenges he has been facing, mentally and emotionally that have led him to battles with alcohol and depression. Leading to a realisation that ‘A gold medal won’t bring me happiness’. This is a major realisation from an elite athlete. For virtually every performer at the top level is. focused on one thing – Winning! Winning becomes the be all and end all of your existence. It is the reward for all your work. Discipline. Sacrifice. But what if that is switched around? The focus of […]
Read More...Swimming Psychology
Swimming Psychology: Australia – The Lust For Gold!
It’s damning! Critical! Condemning! The 2012 Olympics were an abysmal one for Australia swimming. A measly haul of one gold medal, was all that this proud nation had to show for their work in the pool. The just released report into this dramatic under-performance by the sports governing body makes grim reading. Here are some of the key points: Participants reported that in the zealous and streamlined attempts to obtain gold medals, the delicate management of motivation, communication and collaboration were lost. There was an increasingly desperate emphasis on gold Management appeared unprepared to tackle the absence of success, leaving […]
Read More...Sports Psychology: Jonathan Fox – In The Zone!
Paralympic gold medal winner Jonathan Fox has an interesting pre-race routine to help him get into the zone before his races. He plays with a Rubik Cube. Fox looks to block out any distractions in the final minutes before his races by turning to the Rubik’s cube that has accompanied him across the world for the past six years. The 21-year-old was given a cube by his grandmother before his first World Championships in South Africa in 2006. Since then, it has travelled the world with Fox, who has honed his skill at solving the puzzle to the extent he […]
Read More...Sports Psychology: Rebecca Adlington – Fear Of Failure!
The London Olympics are fast approaching, and swimming gold medallist Rebecca Adlington is nervous. Rebecca is one of the poster girls for the Olympics. A public figure and focal point for the nation’s expectations. Expectations that can become a massive burden. Expectations that can lead to fear of failure. And when fear of failure holds sway, then under-performance can easily follow. For a champion like Rebecca Adlington, handling the burden of expectation is a familiar feeling. And one she should embrace like a champion. She admits to feeling scared ahead of the upcoming trials. And thats ok. A fear of […]
Read More...Swimming: Michael Phelps – Finding Ways To Win
In a phenomenal finish, American Michael Phelps, tipped Serbia’s Milorad Cavic to the Olympic 100m butterfly gold medal. It was a race Phelps had no right to win. Cavic was a certain winner, right until the very last stroke. Then, the powerful will of Phelps, proved too much for the Serb. Phelps, did what all sporting greats, manage to do, in times of adversity. He found a way to win. Champions like Phelps, have a reservoir of positive successful memories to tap into. Memories that drive them. Inspires them. Builds irrevocable belief. You might not know how you will win. But […]
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