The Game Inside The Games

All good things must come to an end…

In our closing episode of The Game Inside The Games, gold medalist Nastia Liukin and high-performance psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais reflect on the most inspiring moments of the series and The Games in Paris. 

They discuss pivotal stories from Paris – from Simone Biles and Suni Lee’s comeback to Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikeç’s casual precision, Noah Lyles’ photo finish, Katie Ledecky’s dominance, and how Stephen Nedoroscik captured the world’s attention – emphasizing the human side of their journeys and the mental skills required to succeed. 

The episode encapsulates the spirit of The Games, highlighting the importance of mental strength, authenticity, and the universal lessons that extend beyond the world of sports.

Our hope with this series is that you’re able to find one thing – one practice or insight from these conversations – that you can incorporate into your own life to get just a little bit better… and to be more at home with yourself in any environment. 

Olympians are a great emblem for what humans are capable of when we commit to exploring our potential – but that is not reserved for Olympians alone. That is available to you too – to all of us. We have so much more inside of us if we are willing to go there.

Episode Insights By Microsoft Copilot:

1. Humanity in Athletics: The episode underscores the importance of recognizing the humanity in Olympians, as exemplified by Simone Biles, who prioritized her mental health, setting a powerful precedent.
2. Raw Talent and Simplicity: The story of the Turkish shooter who won silver without advanced technology illustrates that raw talent, coupled with mental and technical preparation, is often all that’s needed to succeed.
3. Resilience in the Face of Adversity: Athletes like Suni Lee, who overcame significant health challenges to win multiple medals, highlight the resilience required to overcome obstacles and achieve greatness.
4. The Importance of Mental Imagery: Steven Nedoroscik’s success in the pommel horse event, emphasizing the power of mental imagery, reinforces the critical role of psychological preparation in athletic performance.
5. The Universal Lessons of the Olympics: The episode emphasizes that the lessons from The Games—such as perseverance, mental toughness, and working from the inside out—are applicable to all areas of life, not just sports.

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This episode is brought to you by LTIMindtree and Microsoft.

Welcome to a new era of digital transformation, where GenAI is not just an innovative concept — it’s a transformative force reshaping how businesses operate.  At the forefront of this revolution is LTIMindtree, partnering with Microsoft to harness the extraordinary capabilities of Copilot for Microsoft 365. A survey of 400 global executives demonstrates compelling outcomes: early adopters of GenAI are not just keeping pace—they’re leading the charge, with a third predicting revenue increases of over 20% in the near future. This is not about replacing human creativity but augmenting it.  GenAI transcends traditional AI’s rule-based limitations, creating new data that mimics human-generated content.

“Success leaves clues… controlling the controllables is key to becoming your best self, whether in sports or in life.”

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.

It’s moments before the biggest competition of your life… you’re rattled by something your coach just said… you have one minute alone to yourself before go time. You look in the mirror… What do you say to yourself to get in the zone – to ground yourself – before the race begins?

On day 13 of The Game Inside The Games, Nastia Liukin and Dr. Michael Gervais sit down with Summer Sanders, a two-time gold medalist and renowned television commentator. 

They delve into the evolution of the Olympic experience from Summer’s 1992 games to the present, exploring the impact of social media, technology, and mental health awareness on athletes today. 

Summer reflects on the pivotal moments that defined her career, including the three powerful questions she asked herself in the mirror before her gold medal race. 

They also dig into what makes a great coach, the crucial role of parenting in shaping an athlete’s journey, and what Summer believes is the real “game inside The Games” for Olympians today. Having been to 13 Olympic games, Summer has a unique inside perspective on the state of The Games today, and what it takes for an athlete to excel.

Episode Insights By Microsoft Copilot:

1. The Evolution of The Games: Summer highlights how the Olympic experience has evolved, particularly with the advent of social media and the internet, which were non-existent during her 1992 Olympics. Today’s athletes face the added pressures of public scrutiny and the need to manage their online presence.
2. Mental Health Awareness: There is a growing recognition of mental health in sports, with conversations around it becoming more integrated into the Olympic narrative. Summer notes that this shift allows athletes to be more vulnerable and authentic, which also helps in building a personal brand.
3. Pre-Competition Self Talk: Before her races, Summer asked herself three critical questions to help her stay grounded and focused on what truly mattered, beyond the competition.
4. Parenting Perspective: Summer shares her approach to parenting, emphasizing that she never pressured her children to excel in sports. She believes in allowing kids to find their own path, which contrasts with the often intense pressure seen in competitive sports environments.
5. The Role of Coaches: Summer discusses what it means to be a great coach, highlighting the balance between pushing athletes to reach their potential and supporting their mental and emotional well-being.

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This episode is brought to you by Capgemini and Microsoft.

Capgemini helps you unleash new ways of working with generative AI technology solutions, such as Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365, to build a human-centric workplace where your people are productive and inspired to innovate and bring new ideas to life. Capgemini sees Copilot as a catalyst for a complete transformation journey, enriched with our own experiences and ingenuity across people, processes, data, and technology, to deliver highly relevant 360-degree business use cases and maximize business value.  Start your journey towards a dynamic, AI-powered workplace with Capgemini today.

“During my Olympic Games the internet wasn’t invented… we focused on what was in the here and now.”

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.

Rowing is a sport that brings the mind into play like no other. When they are maxing out their physical capacity, completely mentally drained, and have little left in the tank – how do they summon the internal resources to push through?

On day 12 of The Game Inside the Games, Nastia Liukin and Dr. Michael Gervais sit down with rowing legends – and brothers – Martin and Valent Sinkovic, who recently won their third gold medal here in Paris.  

The Sinkovic brothers discuss their thrilling gold medal race, detailing the mental and physical challenges they faced, particularly when they were behind and had to summon the strength for an incredible comeback late in the race.

They break down their perspective on pain, perseverance, trust, internal motivation, and managing pre-race emotions. 

And most importantly, they share their powerful perspective on life – that high performance and joy can co-exist, and that sometimes we all need to experience a little pain… a little discomfort… to live a more fulfilling life. 

The Sinkovic brothers are an emblem for the good life, and we all have something to learn from their experience and insight.

Episode Insights By Microsoft Copilot:

1. Pain and Perseverance: The Sinkovic brothers emphasize that pain is temporary, but the glory of victory lasts forever. They highlight the importance of pushing through discomfort to achieve long-term success.
2. Trust and Teamwork: Trust between teammates is crucial. The brothers trust each other to always give their best, which is a key component of their success.
3. Emotional Management: The emotional intensity before and during the race is significant, with feelings of anxiety, nerves, and excitement. Accepting and managing these emotions is essential for performing your best.
4. Mental Resilience in Critical Moments: During their gold medal race, the brothers faced a moment where they believed they were out of the medal contention. However, by focusing on giving their best effort regardless of the outcome, they were able to summon the strength to surge forward and win.
5. The Power of Purpose: The Sinkovics discuss how having a strong sense of purpose helps them endure the toughest moments in training and competition. When the goal is clear and meaningful, it becomes easier to push through discomfort and fatigue.

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This episode is brought to you by NTT Data and Microsoft.

NTT Data is transforming the workplace with Copilot for Microsoft 365.

“Sometimes you need to suffer pain to have a better life.”

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.

You work your whole life towards one goal… and you come up short by a fraction of a second. How do you bounce back from that? How do you move forward?

On day 11 of The Game Inside The Games, gold medalist Nastia Liukin and high-performance psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais explore psychological and emotional complexities that athletes face when they fall just short of a gold medal or podium. 

They discuss the flood of emotions that can overwhelm an athlete in pivotal moments, the importance of processing those emotions, and how to use past experiences to fuel future success. 

With personal stories and expert insights, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what an athlete experiences when they come up just short – and how they can turn the agony of “almost” into a driving force for excellence.

Episode Insights By Microsoft Copilot:

1. The Power of Emotional Processing: Athletes need to work through their emotions after a near-miss to access the valuable information these feelings provide, helping them refine their focus and improve future performance.
2. Acceptance as a Key to Moving Forward: Accepting what has happened, whether it’s a near win or a loss, is crucial for athletes to move forward and continue striving for success without being haunted by past events.
3. The Significance of Self-Talk: Maintaining positive self-talk, especially in the moments leading up to a competition, can help athletes focus on what they need to do to succeed, rather than dwelling on fears of failure.
4. Moving Forward: Experiencing a narrow defeat can be a powerful motivator, pushing athletes to work harder and make adjustments that can lead to greater success in the future.

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This episode is brought to you by KPMG and Microsoft.

The KPMG value realization framework for Microsoft Copilot can help your organization adopt Copilot for Microsoft 365 quickly and successfully. KPMG professionals can help you cover all aspects of your Copilot rollout, including business value and realization, organization transition and change management, data security, technical readiness and rollout prep, and Copilot extensibility. 

Learn more at https://kpmg.com/microsoftcopilot

“If you’re waiting for the games to be able to figure out how to work with your emotions, you’re very, very late.”

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.

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:

1. Distractions from Family and Friends: Athletes often face significant distractions from family and friends during the games, which can impact their focus and performance.
2. Importance of Mental Preparation: Mental skills training is as crucial as physical training for athletes to manage distractions and maintain focus during competitions.
3. 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.
4. 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.

Rejection, resilience, and unexpected glory: a tale that proves it’s never too late to rewrite your story.

On Day 9 of The Game Inside The Games, Nastia Liukin and Dr. Michael Gervais sit down with Alev Kelter, a remarkable athlete who has represented the U.S. in three different sports: soccer, ice hockey, and rugby.

Alev shares her journey from facing the heartbreak of being cut from the U.S. Ice Hockey team to discovering a new passion in rugby, competing in three consecutive Olympic games, and ultimately winning The United States’ first ever women’s rugby medal, in one of the most electric finishes in Paris so far.

In this conversation, you’ll hear a behind-the-scenes perspective on pivotal moments, the power of a culture built by its players, and a play-by-play the stunning finish in the weening seconds of the bronze medal match. 

Alev is a treasure trove of insights – she beautifully highlights the resilience required to overcome setbacks, the courage to pursue new opportunities in the face of adversity, and the ability to use sport as a canvas for self-expression. 

Episode Insights By Microsoft Copilot:

1. Mental Resilience: Alev’s story of being released from the U.S. Ice Hockey team and finding a new path in rugby underscores her ability to rise from moments of shame and depression to embrace new opportunities is a testament to her strength, determination, and working from purpose.
2. Team Culture and Values: The episode highlights the significance of team culture and core values. Alev’s rugby team embraced values that played a crucial role in their success and camaraderie.
3. Embracing Opportunities and Risks: Alev’s advice to parents about letting their children explore life’s many opportunities and not being afraid of risks is a powerful message. Every obstacle can lead to a new opportunity, and embracing challenges is essential for growth and success.
4. Sport as a Form of Self-Expression: Alev views sport as a performance art, a beautiful canvas for self-expression. This perspective emphasizes that sports can be both analytical and expressive, allowing athletes to showcase their unique talents and creativity.

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This episode is brought to you by Accenture, Avanade, and Microsoft.

Copilot for Microsoft 365 is revolutionizing how we work. At Accenture and Avanade, we amplify the power of your workplace. We are pioneers in generative AI and early adopters of Microsoft Copilot. We’ve been at the forefront of exploring the power of AI to enhance productivity, creativity, and innovation for our clients and ourselves. We offer end-to-end services from security and data protection to skills and governance, ensuring you can integrate Copilot in a safe, secure, and responsible way to create a workplace where technology enhances human potential.

“For me, sport is a performance art… sport creates a beautiful canvas for everybody to find their medium, to express themselves, and I think that’s what artists do.”

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.

“It took me 16 years to heal from being an Olympian.” That is a remarkable statement. 

On day 8 of The Game Inside The Games, Nastia Liukin and Dr. Michael Gervais sit down with former Olympian swimmer Katie Hoff to explore the pivotal moments of her Olympian experience.

Katie reflects on her journey from a young prodigy to a two-time Olympian, discussing the psychological challenges she faced, including the intense pressure to succeed and the impact of bullying. 

Katie shares her experiences of overcoming these obstacles, the importance of investing in your mental health, and the process of healing and finding self-worth beyond medals. 

This candid conversation offers a deep insight into the authentic lived experiences and the resilience required to navigate the highs and lows of life as an Olympian.

In this episode, we talked about the power of gratitude – so we asked Microsoft Copilot to create an outline for a daily gratitude journal. Check it out below.

Daily Gratitude Journal by Microsoft Copilot: 

Prompt: “Reflect on your day and list three things you are grateful for. These can be big or small, related to people, experiences, or simple moments that brought you joy. The important part is that you really connect to these moments and feel why they made you grateful.”

Outline

1. Date:
2. Gratitude List:
   • Three Things I’m Grateful For:
3. Daily Highlights:
   • Best part of my day:
   • Unexpected joy or kindness:
4. Challenges and Lessons:
   • Challenges faced:
   • Lessons learned:
5. Evening Reflection:
   • Overall feeling today:
   • How to improve tomorrow:

This episode is brought to you by IBM and Microsoft. IBM is unlocking business transformation with Copilot for Microsoft 365.

“I always viewed it like I have to be a gold medalist, or it’s not an accomplishment I feel good about.”

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.

It’s time to meet the moment. 

In Part 2 of this riveting conversation on The Game Inside The Games, Nastia Liukin and Dr. Michael Gervais continue their deep dive into the psychological intricacies of women’s gymnastics. Building on their previous discussion about the preparation and lead up to the Women’s All Around Final, this episode focuses on the different components of this iconic event and the mental challenges unique to each apparatus.

Nastia reveals the intense psychological and physical preparations required for the uneven bars, including the hidden complexities like dealing with different grip substances used by international competitors. She shares her personal pre-performance routines, the internal dialogue that guided her through her performance, and what it was like to look up at the scoreboard after competing in the event she had dreamed about for so long.

The conversation also highlights the upcoming historic competition between Simone Biles and Sunisa Lee – the first two gold medalists to compete against each other in an All Around Final. 

Nastia and Dr. Mike explore the razor-thin margins in gymnastics scoring and the mental fortitude required to perform under such precise conditions.

Whether you’re a gymnastics enthusiast or simply fascinated by the psychology of elite performance, this conversation provides an unprecedented look into what it takes to compete at the highest level of sport.

In case you missed it, be sure to check out Part 1 HERE.

Episode Insights By Microsoft Copilot:

1. Mental Skills Preparation: Athletes must balance confidence, calmness, and aggression to perform at their best. This mental preparation is as crucial as physical training.
2. Importance of Routine: Consistent pre-performance routines, such as Nastia’s ritual before mounting the bars, help athletes maintain focus and control under pressure.
3. Adaptability in Competition: Gymnasts must quickly adapt to unexpected changes, such as different equipment conditions, to avoid serious injuries and perform optimally.
4. Focus on Self-Performance: Athletes should aim to be their best rather than trying to outperform others. This mindset helps them stay focused and resilient, regardless of competitors’ performances.

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This episode is brought to you by LTIMindtree and Microsoft.

Welcome to a new era of digital transformation, where GenAI is not just an innovative concept — it’s a transformative force reshaping how businesses operate.  At the forefront of this revolution is LTIMindtree, partnering with Microsoft to harness the extraordinary capabilities of Copilot for Microsoft 365. A survey of 400 global executives demonstrates compelling outcomes: early adopters of GenAI are not just keeping pace—they’re leading the charge, with a third predicting revenue increases of over 20% in the near future. This is not about replacing human creativity but augmenting it.  GenAI transcends traditional AI’s rule-based limitations, creating new data that mimics human-generated content. 

“This year’s Women’s All Around Final will probably be some of the best gymnastics we will witness in history happening under one roof at the same time.”

For an Olympian gymnast, a lifetime of preparation leads to a single event… an event that totals just four exhilarating minutes of performance, expression, and competition… an event that will either make or break their wildest dreams. 

On day 6 of The Game Inside The Games, gold medalist Nastia Liukin and high-performance psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais uncover the intense psychological landscape of one sport’s most iconic events – the Women’s All-Around Final in gymnastics. 

They explore the mental strategies and pivotal moments that define an athlete’s performance, revealing an unprecedented look into an Olympian’s mind when they step onto the competition floor.

Nastia recounts her gold medal run in vivid detail – from the intensity of warm-ups to her mindset walking down the tunnel and the intricate details of the competition unseen by viewers at home.  

Through Nastia’s experiences and Dr. Mike’s expertise, this conversation illuminates the razor-thin mental edge that separates champions from contenders on one the world’s biggest stages.

Episode Insights By Microsoft Copilot:

1. Mental Focus and Visualization: Athletes like Nastia use intense focus and visualization techniques to prepare for their routines, often visualizing their performance while others are competing.
2. Confidence Through Training: Confidence is built through rigorous training and mental rehearsal, allowing athletes to trust their abilities during competition.
3. Handling Pressure: The ability to handle pressure and stay calm is crucial. Nastia describes feeling an unusual calmness before her final competition, which she attributes to her mental preparation.
4. Resilience and Adaptability: Athletes must quickly recover from mistakes or unexpected events, such as a fall during warm-up, and maintain their focus and confidence.

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This episode is brought to you by Hitachi Solutions and Microsoft.

Hitachi Solutions stands at the forefront of technological innovation, expertly positioned to guide the adoption of groundbreaking AI technologies with Copilot for Microsoft 365. Their early adoption of Copilot has not only boosted their productivity but also strategically enabled their goals to innovate and optimize operations. With leading capabilities across all Microsoft applications and technologies and its breadth of expertise, Hitachi Solutions remains dedicated to empowering businesses through innovative solutions. Let them show you how Copilot for Microsoft 365 can simplify workflows, enhance team’s capabilities, and drive productivity gains.

“It was so quiet in my mind, complete silence. And then I hear my heart beating. I was nervous, but I was so calm. I had never been more calm in my entire life.”

How do Olympians balance the tension between being roommates and supportive teammates one day – and fierce rivals the next? 

On day 5 of The Game Inside The Games, Nastia Liukin and Dr. Michael Gervais break down the psychological conflict athletes face when striving for their individual success while also supporting the success of their team – and offer a way forward.

Nastia recounts her own experience with teammate Shawn Johnson, revealing how their close bond was tested as they competed for gold. This episode highlights the delicate balance between camaraderie and rivalry – and explores how athletes navigate these complex moments and relationships.

And in the end, Dr. Mike unveils the psychological strategies that we can all use to maintain relationships while striving for individual excellence.

Episode Insights By Microsoft Copilot:

1. Balancing Team and Individual Goals: Athletes must navigate the tension between supporting their teammates and competing against them for individual success.
2. Youth and Pressure: The youth of gymnasts adds an extra layer of complexity, as they are still learning about life and relationships while under immense pressure.
3. Managing External Noise: Successful athletes learn to block out external variables and focus on their own performance.
4. Importance of Self-Efficacy: Developing a strong sense of self-efficacy helps athletes view challenges positively and manage anxiety.
5. Maintaining Relationships: As much as sports can unite people, you also have to take care of and nurture relationships for them to last.

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This episode is brought to you by NTT Data and Microsoft.

NTT Data is transforming the workplace with Copilot for Microsoft 365.

“You always want the best for your teammates, but at the end of the day, you’re also trying to beat them.”

Are elite athletes a good population to teach us about mental health? 

Despite what coverage in the media might suggest… YES! Elite athletes have so much to teach us about how to work from the inside out. 

On day 4 of The Game Inside The Games, five-time medalist Nastia Liukin and high-performance psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais explore the topic of mental health in the context of one of the biggest sporting events on the planet. 

They discuss the importance of mental skills training, the evolving conversation around mental health in sports, and how athletes like Simone Biles have influenced this dialogue.

The topic of mental health exists on a large spectrum – and right now, the conversation is about dysfunction, not health. It’s time to flip the script.

Episode Insights By Microsoft Copilot:

1. Mental Health Evolution: The conversation around mental health in sports has shifted significantly, with more athletes openly discussing their struggles and strategies.
2. Protective vs. Risk Factors: Elite athletes have both protective factors (support systems, resources) and risk factors (high pressure, identity tied to performance) affecting their mental health.
3. Mental Skills Training: Building mental skills is crucial for athletes – and everyone – to perform at their best, involving purpose, awareness, and specific mental techniques.
4. Continuous Effort: Mental health is an ongoing process, not a destination, requiring consistent effort and skill-building.

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This episode is brought to you by Capgemini and Microsoft.

Capgemini helps you unleash new ways of working with generative AI technology solutions, such as Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365, to build a human-centric workplace where your people are productive and inspired to innovate and bring new ideas to life. Capgemini sees Copilot as a catalyst for a complete transformation journey, enriched with our own experiences and ingenuity across people, processes, data, and technology, to deliver highly relevant 360-degree business use cases and maximize business value.  Start your journey towards a dynamic, AI-powered workplace with Capgemini today.

“Mental health is not an outcome. It’s a set of skills that is deeply ingrained in a process.”

Do other people’s expectations make or break an athlete’s Olympic dream?

On day 3 of The Game Inside The Games, Dr. Michael Gervais and Nastia Liukin sit down with one of the most decorated athletes in skiing history, Lindsey Vonn, to explore how expectations impact performance. 

Lindsey shares her journey as a world-class skier, discussing the mental and emotional challenges she faced throughout her career. She delves into how she used negativity and doubt from others as fuel for her success, the importance of control and precision in skiing, and her mindset during her most significant races. Lindsey also offers valuable advice for the next generation of athletes, emphasizing the power of resilience and self-belief.

While Lindsey has her own unique lived experience, what she has to say can benefit all of us – don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of the world’s best in this episode of The Game Inside The Games.

Episode Insights By Microsoft Copilot:

1. Internalizing Criticism: Vonn used negative comments and doubts from others as motivation, internalizing them to fuel her determination and intensity.
2. Mental Gymnastics: The concept of mental gymnastics involves channeling emotions like anger into focused intensity and presence during competition.
3. Living Without Regrets: Embracing challenges and working from a place of gratitude and anxiety helped Lindsey achieve her goals.
4. Ideal Competitive Mindset: Vonn’s most memorable race was her Olympic run in Vancouver, where she felt the most present and on the limit, leading to her best performance.
5. Advice to Younger Self: Vonn emphasizes the importance of learning from experiences rather than receiving advice, suggesting that personal growth comes from overcoming challenges.

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Take our poll on expectations designed by Microsoft Copilot HERE!

This episode is brought to you by KPMG and Microsoft. 

The KPMG value realization framework for Microsoft Copilot can help your organization adopt Copilot for Microsoft 365 quickly and successfully. KPMG professionals can help you cover all aspects of your Copilot rollout, including business value and realization, organization transition and change management, data security, technical readiness and rollout prep, and Copilot extensibility. Learn more at kpmg.com/microsoftcopilot.

“The Olympics are what you grow up dreaming about… You don’t grow up dreaming about a World Cup race… the Olympics represent something bigger.”

Imagine if every email you sent – every phone call you took – was scrutinized, critiqued, and scored by the person who writes your paycheck.

In day 2 of The Game Inside The Games, Nastia Liukin and Dr. Michael Gervais explore the unique psychological challenges athletes face in judged sports like gymnastics. 

They discuss how the constant evaluation by judges – even during pre-competition training sessions – impacts athletes’ performances, mental states, and ultimately their ability to podium. 

Nastia shares compelling stories from her own journey, revealing how her father’s coaching philosophy helped her navigate the subjective nature of judging. 

This episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the psychological strategies that can make or break an Olympic dream – and the human behind it – when your every move is being watched.

“The most important part is to always train as if you’re competing and to compete as if you’re training.”

Episode Insights by Microsoft Copilot

1. Judging in Gymnastics: Judges start evaluating athletes even before the competition, during every training session. They note consistent mistakes and look for them during the actual performance, making it crucial for athletes to train as if they are competing.
2. Mental Preparation: Visualization and maintaining a positive mindset are key for athletes. Negative thoughts can lead to mistakes, so athletes must focus on visualizing their routines and staying grounded.
3. Self-Validation: Athletes should focus on self-validation rather than seeking external approval. Trusting their training and performance helps them stay confident and perform at their best.

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This episode is brought to you by Accenture, Avanade, and Microsoft. 

Copilot for Microsoft 365 is revolutionizing how we work. At Accenture and Avanade, we amplify the power of your workplace. We are pioneers in generative AI and early adopters of Microsoft Copilot. We’ve been at the forefront of exploring the power of AI to enhance productivity, creativity, and innovation for our clients and ourselves. We offer end-to-end services from security and data protection to skills and governance, ensuring you can integrate Copilot in a safe, secure, and responsible way to create a workplace where technology enhances human potential.

Welcome to The Game Inside the Games, brought to you right from the heart of Paris in partnership with Microsoft Copilot.

In the premier episode of The Game Inside The Games, five-time Olympic medalist Nastia Liukin and high-performance psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais explore the psychological challenges athletes face at the start of the Olympics. 

If you had the biggest exam of your life tomorrow… would you go to a party the night before? Many people may not realize, but this is a critical decision many Olympians face when deciding whether or not to attend the opening ceremony. 

Mike and Nastia dig into the impact of often unseen moments – like missing practice due to transportation issues or navigating the hype of the opening ceremony – on an athlete’s mindset and performance. 

And they bring in a very special guest – 3-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the greatest beach volleyball players to ever do it, Kerri Walsh Jennings – to explore her unique Olympic perspective.

Episode Insights by Microsoft Copilot

1. Mental Preparation and Resilience: The episode emphasizes the critical role of psychological readiness and mental resilience in an athlete’s performance. Athletes need to develop mental skills to handle the immense pressure and unexpected challenges of the Olympics.
2. The Opening Ceremony: The decision of whether or not to attend the opening ceremony can have a significant effect on an athlete’s experience and performance. Ultimately, every athlete is different and needs to know themself to make the decision that is best for them
3. Adaptability in the Face of Challenges: Athletes must be adaptable and prepared for unforeseen circumstances, such as transportation delays or changes in schedule. The ability to stay flexible and maintain focus despite these disruptions is crucial for success.

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“There’s a whole set of circumstances that are challenging athletes before (the Olympics) even get started, that nobody sees.”