Mental preparation for the Olympic Games

To be able to carry out mental preparation for the Olympic games, it is necessary to take into consideration: what needs to be done to prepare athletes, what factors contribute during the Olympics and finally what the relevant research underlines in performance for those athletes competing at high levels.

Research conducted by the American Olympic Committee has highlighted factors that positively and negatively influence performance in athletes and coaches before and during the Olympics.

The success of Olympic performance is linked to many different factors and is a long-term process.

There are situations and distractions that can interfere and although there may be constant variables such as the presence of the same people at the event, the atmosphere is totally different each time.

In addition, the public, the media and the subjective pressures in knowing how much sacrifice have been made during the previous four preparatory years, can significantly influence the performance result.

Metaphorically speaking going to the Olympics can be partly experienced with frustration because for the athlete it is often perceived to be the same as "taking a child to Disneyland to put him on a magical mountain, opening the door for him, showing him all the wonderful attractions, but not allowing him to play with lightness and enthusiasm because he has to do his job ”.

The athlete, like the child, experiences enormous enthusiasm and joy, such as during the opening of the Olympic Games with the starting parade, but they are obliged to moderate their emotions.

Although there is great excitement, everything must be experienced in moderation. This is because for athletes, control and emotional and physical management all mean winning "the medal".

At the Olympics everything becomes a problem of performance. In the Olympic environment there are many things that happen.

There are factors that influence performance and preparation, such as the media, the team, the sponsors, the coaches, the Olympic committee, the staff, the weather conditions and the temperature.

Athletes are not tourists, instead, they are on a "mission". Among the factors that influence performance are distractions, excessive incitement which, despite causing positive emotions in the athlete, must be absorbed without being distracted. Finally, fundamental variables include having clear planning and adherence to programmed plans and routine.

As far as the latter is concerned, athletes must have already planned them at the Olympics and must strictly adhere to them as a foundation because they are the only factors of stability as everything else can change.

Nevertheless, the best athletes, if they change routine, do not change it impulsively but do it because it is a strategic choice.

Other factors that influence the success of Olympic performance are optimal physical preparations. If you "race against Bolt" you obviously train a lot more than you usually would. However, this can put the body under stress and make it more fragile.

Excessive training that neglects recovery increases the likelihood of weakening the body as well as the risk of injury. As for the mental aspect, it is necessary to prepare this with a mental and performance coach, www.performanceexpansion.com, just to be ready for the unexpected and have "in your arsenal" effective techniques to deal with emotional states that could interfere with optimal performance.

Another factor highlighted by the research conducted, is influence that relationships can have on the athlete. In fact while friends, the media and the family can be of great support they can also be a factor of great disturbance and distraction.

The best thing about the mental and performance coach is the ability to educate on the relationship and the type of effective support to better assist the athlete during the Olympics.

Another factor that can positively or negatively influence performance during and before the Olympics is with regards to coaches. They can positively influence if they have made the athlete perform the right mental and physical preparation, and if they have provided support and an organized environment. They can negatively influence, if they have requested the athlete to train excessively, chosen the wrong team members and are unable to manage the pressures.

The research also shows that those athletes who experienced failure at the Olympics declared that they would do the following things differently:

Involve an experienced professional like a psychologist specialized in the field of sport and performance with the aim of focusing more on mental preparation

Avoid excessive training and also find time for recovery and rest

Be more prepared to manage distractions

Optimize physical preparation

In conclusion we can affirm that mental preparation is fundamental to perform at the Olympics. Mental preparation is a long-term process just like physical preparation.

Flexibility is essential and finally the control of distractions and the use of routine as a foundation to manage the unexpected are all strategies to get a medal at the Olympics.

What are we waiting for? Let's prepare mentally to enter the Olympics of our life!