Could Belief Be the Answer to Success at the Olympics?

Many sports experts will claim that Sport Psychologists play a key role in preparing Sports stars for success. Of course there are still sceptics, but there is evidence to suggest that it's vital to believe something in order to do it. Some people have even stronger views that believing something strongly enough will ensure that it happens. My view is somewhere in the middle I think it's vital believe it can be done, but that is no guarantee that it will happen. However if I can visualise myself doing something then there is a very strong chance it will happen.

Kelly Sotherton is a big British hope for a medal at the Olympics and as recently revealed she beliefs herself that she will win gold. Kelly won a bronze medal four years ago in Athens and this time she truly believes the medal will be gold. A report from Reuters states that Kelly recently underwent a polygraph test and after some control questions it was revealed that her revelation that she will win gold was truthful. Whetever or not it will come true Kelly Sootherton believes it. Impressive results have been achieved using sport psychology and if sports people believe they can win that has to be a good thing. It appears that getting the mind right is a vital component to sporting success.

This information doesn't come as a great surprise to me as I have often heard coaches talk about getting the mind right. Also there have been countless stories of young athletes with unbelievable talent who haven't made it because their mind isn't right. Confidence is such an important thing in sport. Anyone who goes into any situation with belief that they can be successful surely is in a much better position to someone who has doubts. I think this is particularly relevant in big sporting competition when not the favourite or the expected winner. The belief also has to be there. Get the mind right and the rest will follow. It's often overlooked but mental preparation is often more important than the physical. I also think that with having that little extra belief will allow the athlete to push themselves that little bit further than they may otherwise of being able to do. It's truly amazing what belief can do and it could make that little bit of difference in the final medal table.