Written by Trackandmemes, February 29, 2024
Athletics is a sport in which passion, pleasure and learning are excellent pillars for beginners. Some people find pleasure and motivation in surpassing themselves, even if it remains in the realm of amateur sport. Others aim to reach the professional level, or even an Olympic gold medal. Whatever the athlete's level and objectives, well-being and mental health are not to be neglected. They can be an asset to self-fulfilment and the achievement of goals.
En lisant quelques témoignages d’athlètes sur leur expérience actuelle dans le milieu athlétique, l’professional athlete and psychologist, Maroussia Paré, a eu à coeur d’écrire une petite lettre à l’attention des athlètes.
had the opportunity to perform at the highest level, notably by taking part on several occasions in the European and World Championships, whether as an individual in the 200m or in the 4x100m relay.
Dear athlete,
Your talent, passion and hard work have led you to choose a wonderful sport.
I wanted to start my message with this reminder: you remain the same person
whether you're at school, on the pitch, with your mates or with your family.
You're the same person, anytime, anywhere.
That's why I always tell you that before looking for performance, look for your
fulfillment. Make yourself a priority. Taking care of yourself should be your
obligation, because it overrides (and influences) everything else.
So I wanted to remind you that athletics is an individual sport,
doesn't mean you have to be alone. Yes, you're on your own behind the blocks, at the end of the runway, or in the middle of it all.
But beyond that, it's essential to surround yourself with a favorable ecosystem
to your personal development. This includes a trusting relationship with your trainer, where you
work together to achieve your sporting goals.
within the training group, as well as real social support.
Whatever your level, this is a sport that puts you in intense situations,
both in terms of positive emotions and more difficult ones. So
whether in training or competition, you'll feel the symptoms of stress: the
heavy legs, trembling, impatience mixed with fear, the heart beating
wildly.
Since you are often confronted with it, your relationship with your stress must be a good one. Stress
is your alarm mechanism. Similar to the alarms installed in our homes, designed
to protect us physically and mentally, your stress is first and foremost beneficial and
more than necessary. It not only protects you, but also creates "that little something extra" that will allow you to
to reach the next stage. On the other hand, you have to make sure that your stress doesn't cause any distress
or get you into trouble. But how do you do it?
Your perception of the situation greatly influences your stress level: more you
interpret a situation as difficult, painful or constraining, the higher your level of
stress will be high, in proportion to the perceived danger. The more negatively you project yourself
on your event, the more intense the stress. And you may have already experienced it: as
stress is very energy-intensive, and can lead to a significant loss of energy.
To take things a step further, I suggest you consider the following questions:
In a given sporting situation (competition, specific training, etc.), what is
stressing you out? Maybe you'll realize that some of the answers aren't directly
linked to elements you control: the judgment of others, a selection, fear of
the obsession with winning at all costs...
Secondly, analyze your thoughts. Some of them may be blocking or holding you back,
preventing you from showcasing your qualities and the work you've done. Identify
especially if you tend to use expressions like "I absolutely must...", "He's got to...".
There are also hasty conclusions such as: "I couldn't keep up with my
usual warm-up routine, I'm sure my race will be bad." Finally,
notice if you resort to the emotional reasoning that consists in saying: "I am
stressed out, so I'm going to fail."
When these negative thoughts arise, replace them with concrete and
adapted, action-oriented. For example, instead of thinking "I absolutely must do
a time on this race", think rather of a precise race strategy that you have
worked on in training.
If we are to complete this work of reflection, it must be followed by action.
When you feel excessive stress, it may be due to a projection that is too far away: the
lactic acid, the presence of competitors...
As I was saying, stress, like emotions, are our alarms that tell us
about our needs. Welcome them and listen to them. Perhaps in this competition where your stress
was high, you needed to be reassured by your coach. Maybe in this
difficult technical training, you needed more information to be able to
make the right gesture.
Take it one step at a time, one stride at a time. What's the first step
cross, the first action to take?
Dear athlete, I wanted to end my message on this aspect that we tend to overlook too often to
neglect: this magnificent sport allows you to develop extraordinary skills
that you can put into practice off the track. You have qualities that don't stop
at the stadium gates. I really encourage you to find other spheres
of happiness in the service of your natural qualities. Remember that you are indeed a
person who practices athletics, but that athletics, and more specifically your
performance doesn't define who you are as an individual.
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