2023-07-25 19:35:35
Symptoms related to depression and anxiety are very common among top athletes. To cope with adversity and uncertainty, they must get to know each other. Turning to a mental preparation professional can help you find the keys to arriving in full possession of your abilities on D-Day.
Published on: 07/25/2023 – 19:35
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In recent years, mental health has emerged as one of the major issues among top athletes. Speech has been freed up and themes such as depression or burnout are no longer taboo. At the Tokyo Olympics, the star of gymnastics, American Simone Biles, had mentioned his psychological difficulties, stirring up the sport planet. The young woman had cracked in the general team competition and explained “ face your demons when she was aiming for six Olympic titles in Japan.
Take into account the whole context of the sporting issue
As Paris 2024 approaches, French athletes no longer hesitate to call on mental preparation. The mind is not just about managing yourself, but taking into account the whole context of the sporting issue: supporters, social networks, opponents, coaches, teammates.
« I dropped out of the Tour de France in 2012 and felt like it was the end of the world and there’s nothing worse “, explains in The Team the French cyclist Tony Gallopin, 35, who announced his end of career next October after 16 years of professionalism. And to admit: For my generation, seeing a psychologist, a mental trainer, was a bit taboo. You always had to keep your emotions, not show your weaknesses. »
But things are changing. ” It’s less and less taboo to come see a psychologisttestifies for RFI Lise Anhoury Szigeti, clinical psychologist at the National Institute of Sport, Expertise and Performance (Insep). The sports entourage understood our role, we came out of the idea of not talking about what is wrong so as not to disturb the athlete even more. Now, we are talking so that the athlete frees himself and can perform. We do “presque” part of the athlete’s preparation. As he has his physical trainer, the athlete now has his mental trainer. We are here for mental well-being before performance “. Getting your brain used to rolling out the ideal movie before a stressful situation soothes anxiety and helps you be much more lucid. Example: the Irish cyclist Dan Martin, recently retired from the pelotons, had done mental work during his career after a big fall to regain the confidence necessary to take very important risks in cycling.
The mental trainer can use meditation, mental imagery and breathing exercises during his sessions. It aims to give the person using it tools that they can, over time, use alone. In the 1980s, mental preparation was mainly used in high-risk sports, such as Formula 1. Now it also helps to manage periods of illness and injury.
« We need to bring something concrete to the psychological follow-up, developed by Lise Anhoury Szigeti. Athletes need to leave with something. They want to make the connection with what they experience on a daily basis. You have to go beyond the main objective, like winning a medal at the Olympics. Everyone wants to win at the Olympics. We have to accompany them every step of the way. I work a lot on the notion of meaning and pleasure in the athlete’s project. »
Integrate the event and make it a strength rather than a source of stress
Lise Anhoury Szigeti receives athletes who are beginning to plan for Paris 2024, particularly with a view to qualifying competitions. ” It will happen quickly. The Olympics in Paris are both in a long time and not long. Many feel the need to talk about it. And the more they verbalize it, the more they will be able to integrate the event and make it a strength rather than a source of stress. The Olympics are the Holy Grail, and at home it’s even more magnificent “recalls Lise Anhoury Szigeti. The idea of offering an Olympic title in front of his family, his public, and all the more stressful.
Today, the French fencer Sara Balzer, team silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, has evolved in her high-level practice and is committed to working on her mind. “ There is a lot of psychological work that has been done this year and it has paid offshe tells RFI. It is essential, it is a huge help. It’s true that I could do it alone, but it saves time. It’s a tool and you have to use it. I love this job. I feel that I have grown. It’s a chance as an athlete to be able to work on yourself. We can be fine, but want to talk to someone. “A year after her bronze medal won in Antalya (Turkey), the Frenchwoman offered herself a second European podium in a row last June during the European Team Championships.
For many, psychological work remains a beneficial tool to put the stakes into perspective and not lose one’s means on D-Day. Because one of the main objectives of a high-level athlete is to succeed in controlling his emotions, so that they do not hinder his capacity for action and reflection in the midst of competition. The mental preparation university diploma was created in 2004-2005 at the University of Clermont-Ferrand. Since then, a dozen universities have awarded diplomas in this field.
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