Skating Competition is mostly like a mind game, and it’s like who has the most mind toughness ,most successful for their mind setting.
Exceptional example of this may be Plushenko.
Most skaters can be inconsistent depending on the situation and I can really see how difficult it is to keep winning.
Once a skater wins, he/she gets high expectation from audience, and gets high pressure for next competition. And many can not handle the pressure and nerves.
A skater who has less expectation from audience may be more relaxed and show their best at every competition.
Also even small things can bother a skater’s mind, such as ice condition, blade problem, personal life issue, health condition etc..
Some skaters are stronger at SP than FP, and after SP, I always think it’s one of the most important times for mind-setting which influences the final result.
Some are weak at SP, and might get less expectation from audience, and that makes them less pressure and makes them more fire to fight.
Personally, I enjoy watching figure skating more as an entertainment , the whole impression of the performance and don’t really care how each technical elements were, levels, speed, footwork.
I care much more for how it looks artistically and whether it is beautiful or not, and whether it is interesting to watch.
One of my main criteria for forming my opinion about a performance is whether I’m having fun or not. If I was a skater and living in the skating world, I might more care for all the technical parts for my improvement.
But I’m not living in that world. It’s my hobby and I have many other things I need to learn , so this is completely my fun time.
Another one of my interest in watching Figure skating is to know how each skater prepares their mind-setting.
Since this is a judged sport which is decided by judges subjective opinion, skaters need luck to win, not only hard work and it comes from their mind-setting , and it is not gifted.
It’s also subjective to think whether skaters have a well-deserved win or not especially when a skater won mostly by high PCS.
It was interesting to read an article about “ The Five Rings of Mental Toughness “ by Dr. Alison Arnold in Figure skating magazine this month.
The article says,
“The Olympic rings are a symbol of strength, dedication and commitment.
In the beginning of 2008, as the mental coach for USA Gymnastics, I wanted to create a mental training program that would not only help our athletes reach their Olympic goals but also tie into the excitement of the Olympic year.
The result is the Five Rings of Mental Toughness.
These five rings work together to build an athlete who is eager, disciplined and committed to be the best he or she can be.
It’s about being mentally tough and having , what I call, an “ unshakeable mind “ .
An athlete with an unshakeable mind is so strong and confident that nothing can affect him or her.
Whether you are striving to be the best in the world or the best in your rink, these principles are essential if you want to reach your goals. “
And it says that the 5 Rings for mental toughness are these below,
The Five Rings
# 1. Awareness
# 2. Vision
# 3. Discipline
# 4. Perseverance
# 5. Belief
I suppose that if all of those 5 rings are a must have to achieve any kind of success, if something is missing in one of these, it may be cause for a failure.
I always respect all the athletes, they are trying to compete at every event , fight with their nerves and pressure, control their mind-set.
It’s easy to lose their mind balance with even small things since originally people‘s minds are unstable.
If I imagine the situation what all of them are doing in front of judges and audience every competition, It’s unbelievably tough.
Especially a big event such as Olympic.
Awareness
It says that a great skater must be aware of what he/she is thinking if there is any hope of being mentally tough.
And need to remove all the negative thought such as fear, worry, no confident , “ anyone is better than me thinking “ and need to make unshakeable mind.
So I believe that as a supporter of Johnny, what I can do for him is to give him confidence with words like how amazing you are, you are the best.
I truly think he is an amazing skater who attracts many people.
Vision
If we don’t know where we are right now to get to our goals, we just get lost.
I have learned about that motivation that in many self improvement books , and it always says set up your goal of your life and imagine the scene of what you are being, having as if we already achieved it constantly.
What we always thinking influence our future.
All the info suggest to write down what you want, your goal, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly.
And the more your emotion is strong to get what you want, your unconscious mind will work to attract that things happened faster.
Discipline
It says that
“ mind only thinks one thought at a time. The key is locking down the mind so it is focused on positive , helpful thoughts. “
Words has power to make things good or bad.
So it’s good to talk or say to yourself any positive words, or appreciate the things you are planning to received in the future as if it already received.
So for skaters, say to yourself “ you are the world champion or Olympic champion “.
I remember that Johnny was saying similar things when he won his first US National title in one of his interview in Nationals EX 2004.
He was putting a paper with the word “ I’m a National Champion “ in his room and was reading the words Every day, every morning during 2003-2004 season.
At that time, I think Johnny had no reputation support , and it made happened using his mind toughness besides his work training.
I believe that he can do it again for every competition and Olympics title !
Perseverance
Pay attention for how you are feeling now.
People’s minds are unstable and I remember a few years ago, Johnny was saying that during training , behind the scene which all the audience may never seen , there are many suffer, anger, cry depending on the day but once they are in front of audience, they need to show as if nothing was happening.
I suppose the during training, when things don’t go well smoothly and had bad days, it’s easy to loose their confidence and get negative thought such as “ I can’t do it anymore ” in their minds and some may give up.
But “never give up ! ”.
It says that
“ whenever you notice loose mind, break the cycle by saying yourself, “ Tight mind,” take a deep breath and say an anchor phrase and bring your mind back to mental choreography. “
Belief
I always felt that many big successful people are big dreamers and are not care much for weather it’s realistic or not.
They believe to be what they want to be and as a result they attracted that. And common is all of their thought are unusual from normal.
Maybe that’s why they became such a big success in their life.
One of the most successful musicians Freddie Mercury ( English rock group Queen ) is a great example.
When he was still a struggling musician, he believed he was a star no matter what others said and within 2 to 3 years, he became a big star.
In the music world , it’s hard to be successful, and to keep on making new music that millions of people around the world want to buy and to become legendary.
I really think his belief must have been extremely strong seeing his high energy from his stage performances.
How important to believe in yourself, even though you may feel your belief in yourself is fake, if you continue, pretty soon you begin to feel it, and it becomes reality.
Many people are loving to criticize athletes performances and also their attitude.
Hope all the athletes won’t read any discussion forums to stay away from any negativities.
People will say whatever, often nonsense, because that’s what they want to think.
IMO, negative criticisms won’t help athletes benefit whether they think it’s the fact or not and it’s only their coaches business between athletes.
Skaters know what was wrong with their performance.
Even though many skaters often make mistakes and can not show their full potential in the Competitions, they were not planning to skate poorly.
I suppose what skaters need is to make strong mind-setting, keep their strong confidence , keep thinking positive way.
I’m always interested in people who are actually very successful and succeeding for their career , business, family ( relationship ) life, health and whole packages.
But for all the top athletes, focusing on only one thing, one goal is the best way to achieve their goal.
Think big !