Mental Training Tips: The Five Performance Priorities
Mental Training Tips: The Five Performance Priorities
“What separated me from everyone else throughout my career was my mental game. It was everything between my ears.”
-Michael Phelps
Ultimately, without doubt, the mental side of the sport of swimming is the difference maker. The fact is, you train as much as you want, you can receive world-class training, you can go hard in the gym, you can eat a pristine diet, you can taper perfectly, and you can have the most modern, hi-tech suit in the world. However, when you show up on the day to perform, if your mind is not in the right place, none of that stuff is going to count for anything. You simply won’t be able to be your best.
Your physical performance in the pool is a direct reflection of your mental state when swimming. If you’re feeling fearful, unconfident, stressed, and tense in the water, those feelings will become manifested through your physical actions in the pool. Your stroke will be tight and tense. Your power and pace will be lacking and labored. Your body will feel heavy and slow. This means that, when you climb onto the block and jump in to compete, you need to be in the right frame of mind.
