Competition can sometimes be more mentally challenging than physically. By the time of competition, you are physically the best prepared you can be and it’s not simply a matter of how talented you are or how much you have trained, but how psychologically prepared you are. These mental aspects include being able to deal with the stress of strong competition. Sometimes seeing other competitors that might be stronger, with bigger skills, more experience, and more confidence can be very intimidating. I remember, for example, seeing Alicia Sacramone and being completely starstruck by her. Her presence, her demeanor, her gymnastics. Not to forget also how incredibly beautiful she is. You start comparing yourself to them, watch them more than you should, and it can encourage you to start doubting yourself. It takes practice to learn how to focus on yourself and not other people who can distract you and cause you to intimidate yourself with faulty thinking.

Mental toughness also includes visualizing your skills and routines, and recovering from mistakes and failure quickly if they occur. You have to determine strategies to tackle tough situations and adjust with each circumstance. Your psychological state reflects on your attitude and behavior, so regardless of a mistake, you have to learn to pick yourself up and collaborate with your team and celebrate the successes of others. It’s also important to not become overconfident and keep positive before, during, and after competition. Mental toughness is extremely challenging and it comes from handling all these types of situations. It’s something that only athletes understand and experience and, ultimately, takes years to master in order to be the best in your sport.