Champions have an absolute motivazione, even as they live with their insecurities

Regarding anxiety management and, more generally, emotional self-regulation in sports, I was reminded of athletes I’ve worked with over the years who have achieved great success.
Margherita Zalaffi, the first and only athlete to date to have won Olympic medals in both foil and épée; Alessandra Sensini, the most successful athlete in the history of Italian sailing; Giovanni Pellielo, the strongest trap shooter in the world; Daniele Scarpa, Olympic gold medalist in canoeing; and Andrea Minguzzi, Olympic gold medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling.

Their greatest psychological strength was the absolute determination to reach the goal they had set for themselves. At the same time, they were well aware that it would be very difficult and that failure was a real possibility. They went through intense moments of discouragement, fearing what might happen if they didn’t win—but they persevered.

Incidentally, questionnaires used to assess grit and tenacity often include terms that reflect an extreme or absolute desire to achieve one’s goals. Therefore, it’s no surprise that top athletes exhibit this same mindset.

I am convinced that it is precisely this mental approach to training and performance that creates that small final edge—perhaps just 1%—which separates those who make it to the podium from those who fall just short, and the serial winners from those who shine only once.

Many athletes do not have this mindset in their sporting and competitive lives, and it is likely this very absence that prevents them from achieving the goals they dream of.