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Michael Phelps on importance of Mental Performance

23 Mar 2025 · 0 min

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A brief interview transcript (from a Fortitude 365 YouTube video) in which two speakers—one speaking in first person—discuss the central role of mental performance in athletic success. Key points: the speaker credits mental toughness as the differentiator in their career, describes competing against oneself and being self-critical, notes a coach’s role in developing mental strength, and explains using detailed visualization (up to about a month before a meet) to prepare for desired and undesired outcomes.

I think that really separated me through my career was.
My mental game, everything.
That was in between my ears. Like, for me, it's just I eventually got to the point where I was competing against myself because I was so hard on myself.
And, you.
Know, for me to improve, I had to get.
Stronger mentally, and I had to find a way to do it. And I think my coach helped me.
Get through that process and learn more. So for me, like, when I. When I would visualize, I visualize every single. I mean, getting up to a meet, I would visualize probably a month or so in advance just of what could happen, what I want to happen and what I don't want to happen. Because when it happened, I was prepared for it.