Santé proudly co-sponsors Team Continu, the elite skating team led by Olympic champion Marianne Timmer. Here, Marianne shares her expertise on how mental coaching can transform your athletic performance.
Marianne Timmer: 'Mental coaching builds essential mental skills like concentration, motivation, injury management, positive self-talk, self-confidence, and self-direction. Sports can powerfully boost self-esteem, but without balance, they can also lead to setbacks.'
Self-confidence is key: Too little prevents the risks needed for breakthroughs and peak performance. With the right amount, you embrace challenges, persist through setbacks, and ultimately succeed. Excess false confidence, however, leads to complacency and stagnation.
Until the late 1980s, mental training in the Netherlands was misunderstood as only for 'unstable' athletes—a myth. Just as technical training hones skills for the technically deficient, mental training is vital for all. Top national teams and elite athletes now routinely integrate it for comprehensive preparation: technical, tactical, and mental.
Missed this tip? Explore all of Marianne Timmer's expert advice.
