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There's only one thing on this man's mind
EIS psychologist Paul Dent reveals how the top athletes are able to shut out all distractions.
Steve Redgrave was absolutely unflappable. There are many things you can worry about before competing and one of Redgrave's greatest strengths was his focus. It was the idea of not getting paranoid. He didn't see the point in worrying about trying to control the uncontrollable. Be it the weather or his competitors. He simply focused on himself and ignored everybody else.
Redgrave did though suggest if things do change, you should be ready for it - "expect the unexpected". He believed the Olympics was like a "circus" and that athletes were thrown into this circus and asked to perform. His main point was that there are so many distractions for a competitor to contend with.
"Focus on what you need to do," he said, and "concentrate like crazy." In the build-up to a championship like the Olympics, it is very easy to panic. There are huge temptations to put in extra training sessions. But if your plan and goal-setting have been good, there shouldn't be a need for concern. And it was the same for Michael Johnson. Many of his competitors complained Johnson ignored them. But the great runner always claimed he was just out on the track "to win....period." He would just focus on his own performance and never considered anybody else.
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