What sets the athletes apart besides their determination and natural talent, is their psychological mindset.
As sports get competitive by the day, I think the game changing / winning factor is going to be the mind skill and resolute psychological behavior of players as recently seen in the iconic Wimbledon final match between Djokovic & Federer. Djokovic turned around the match in his favor despite Federer being twice at Championship winning points.
Claiming the Championship title after 5 enduring sets, tie-breaks, two match points down, and while the crowd was cheering for Federer, can only be achieved by immense mind control and unwavering self-belief.
This is what Djokovic had to say after the match -
“I always try to imagine myself as a winner. I think there is a power to that. Also there has to be, next to the willpower, strength that comes not just from your physical self, but from your mental and emotional self. For me, at least, it’s a constant battle within, more than what happens outside.”
The other athlete that comes to my mind is Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time with 22 medals, 18 of them gold. Phelps was obviously a tremendously gifted athlete who trained incredibly hard but what propelled him beyond other swimmers was his mental tenacity shaped through years of mental preparation and experience.
In a 2012 profile of Phelps, U.S. Olympic Committee sport psychologist Sean McCann told the Washington Post that mental strength can be broken down into two parts, an “unyielding desire for victory” and a resilience to break through unforeseen obstacles. Few athletes have both.
In this video Phelps talks about how he mastered the psychology of speed.
In India, I think, athletes playing on International level must be practicing some form of mental preparation techniques and undergoing the training to hone their mental stamina. PV Sindhu’s Rio Olympics Silver medal win and her competitive mindset over the years exhibits the same apart from her optimal performance. However, I do think we lack the understanding and importance of this soft skill at the grassroots level.
All players should work on developing this game changing skill and prepare themselves to face intense competitions along with the demanding physical endurance required for the sport. Also, I do believe, this psychological mindset will prove to be a game changer in today’s world, not just for sports, but in all aspects of life.