Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir perform at the ice dance free dance competitions during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics on Feb. 20, 2018. Reuters/Lucy Nicholson
We witnessed some exceptional performances during the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. For any athlete to deliver a gold medal performance, mental toughness is an essential ingredient. But what exactly is mental toughness—and how does an athlete develop it?
Research published in the Journal of Sports Sciences has found successful Olympians have a high degree of self-confidence, are able to block out distractions, manage their arousal level, are goal-oriented, and demonstrate a healthy form of perfectionism.
On a personal note, as an Olympian and a registered member with the Canadian Sport Psychology Association, I have used both strategies to enhance my own mental toughness and I now assist athletes as a consultant to develop those skills.
