Olympics, Para-Olympics and beyond 2024

Many people have been inspired by watching the Paris 2024 Olympics and the achievements of all the athletes. What an honor it is to be selected to represent your country, even if you do not make the podium. So many years of training, practice at all hours of the day, depending on the facilities you need to train in whilst still maintaining the financial and emotional support you need to keep you moving forward.

Learning the physical techniques you need for your skills to become second nature takes time, aptitude and desire to push yourself, but nutrition, physiotherapy and mental conditioning play a significant part too. When learning a new skill, 80% of your ability and focus is on building the physical elements you need to repeat until they become engrained, only 20% is about the mental approach to your chosen dicipline.

However, when you become proficient in your sport, the final piece to give you an edge changes that ration so that your focus becomes only 20% on the physical elements, 80% is now on the management of your thoughts.

I have lost track of how many athletes have referred to Mental Health problems whilst other state that the mental game is the most important part in managing yourself at an event. Set your goals, define your game plan and find someone you want to work with on the mental side of your sport and you too could be at the Olympics one day.