Mental Skills and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games

The 2024 Paris Olympics were a global celebration that showcased the best athletes in the world. Throughout the two weeks, my television was tuned in to Olympic coverage exclusively. While I couldn't watch every Olympic event, I was able to watch a variety of athletes/teams and learn how mental skills impact their training and performance. As I watched the summer's Olympic games, I made note of any mentions of mental skills by athletes or sports commentators. Below is my list of mental skills categorized by sport:

Self-Talk:  Men’s & Women’s Track and Field, Women’s Gymnastics, Women’s Swimming, Women’s Heptathlon, Women’s Mountain Biking

Visualization:  Men’s and Women’s Gymnastics, Women’s Fencing, Table Tennis, Men’s Basketball, Men’s Diving, Women’s Table Tennis

Routine:  Men’s and Women’s Swimming, Women’s Skeet Shooting, Men’s Weightlifting

Meditation and Breathing:  Women’s Beach Volleyball, Men’s and Women’s Gymnastics, Men’s Basketball, Men’s and Women’s Track and Field

I am certain my list is nowhere near complete, as I was unable to watch every Olympic event.  However, I think it’s safe to assume that athletes competing in the Olympics work to develop both their physical and mental fitness to perform at such an elite level.  I encourage anyone looking to improve their athletic performance to incorporate mental skills training into their routine.