In the high-stakes world of elite sport, the unwavering support of loved ones can be both a powerful boost and a perilous distraction.
In this episode of The Game Inside The Games, Nastia Liukin and Dr. Michael Gervais explore the significant impact that family and friends can have on an athlete’s performance at The Games. They discuss how the presence of loved ones, while a vital source of encouragement, can also become a significant distraction that impacts focus and performance.
For athletes, The Games represent the pinnacle of their careers—a moment that requires complete mental and emotional focus. However, for family and friends, they are often seen as a celebration, which can unintentionally pull the athlete’s attention away from their performance.
Nastia shares her unique perspective as a gold medalist, including how her father, who was also her coach, helped her navigate these distractions.
They also address modern challenges, such as the impact of social media, which has introduced new distractions that previous generations of athletes didn’t face.
In this episode, you’ll get an inside look at the emotional management required at the highest level of competition, where the difference between winning and losing often comes down to the ability to stay focused despite the myriad of distractions.
Through personal stories and expert insights, the conversation uncovers valuable lessons not just for athletes, but for anyone striving to achieve high performance in high-pressure situations.
Episode Insights By Microsoft Copilot:
- Distractions from Family and Friends: Athletes often face significant distractions from family and friends during the games, which can impact their focus and performance.
- Importance of Mental Preparation: Mental skills training is as crucial as physical training for athletes to manage distractions and maintain focus during competitions.
- Role of Coaches and Support Staff: Coaches and support staff play a vital role in helping athletes manage distractions and stay focused on their goals.
- Controlling the Controllables: Athletes are encouraged to focus on what they can control and not get overwhelmed by external factors.
This episode is brought to you by PwC and Microsoft.
PwC and Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 together provide a powerful, multifaceted strategy tailored to the evolving AI landscape, enhancing business operations, communication, and problem-solving. At PwC, we embody this transformation by deploying Copilot for Microsoft 365 across our global network, transforming our operations across all functions to better serve our clients through the power of AI.
Learn more: Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365: PwC
“The hardest part of focus is not saying yes to your goal, but being able to say no to the many other possibilities that exist.” – Fiapo Tenius, Team Canada Women’s Beach Volleyball Coach
Finding Your Best
If you want to dive deeper into the mental skills we discuss on these episodes, be sure to check out our Finding Your Best course where we teach the same 16 high-performance principles, mindset skills, and wellbeing practices that Dr. Mike has used to train 30+ gold medalists, Fortune 50 CEOs and more.
