Alston for Athletes’ Post

The #Paris2024 clock is ticking! Many Olympic athletes from countries across the globe continue to use and benefit from #mentalskillstraining and #sportpsychology. #USA Olympians are become more open discussing their #mentalhealth struggles and how #sportpsychology has helped them both on and off the field/court. Check out this recent article with several #USA Olympians discussing their experiences and how they've prioritized their #mentalhealth for the #Paris2024 games! https://lnkd.in/gsuhBW_P

The Olympic spirit ignites a passion for holistic well-being, inspiring us to honor our physical health, cultivate psychological resilience, and nurture our mental and emotional capacities. It empowers us to face life's challenges with steadfast courage. Olympians remind us about the power of purpose and perseverance, filling us with appreciation for athletes who embrace the present, pursue their dreams, and attain remarkable achievements. Their example motivates us to cultivate unwavering determination in our own lives. At the heart of the Olympic movement lies a spirit of global unity and sportsmanship, encouraging kindness, meaningful connections, and collective well-being. By fostering shared humanity, the Olympic spirit has the power to inspire positive change. #PresentSenses #Wellness #Development #OlympicSpirit #PhysicalWellness #EmotionalWellness #SpiritualWellness #SocialWellness #SenseofSportsmanship

What sets Olympians apart? How do Olympians struggle with mental health resulting from the strains of the sport, the burden of national expectations, unimaginable pressure to perform, or the disappointment of no medals? How do they build resilience? What sets Katie Ledecky + other Olympians truly apart can be their mind-set, their approach to sports emotionally + psychologically. Elite athletes spend hours + hours training, coping with pain + setbacks, alone with their doubts + their thoughts. The margins of success in sports are so fine, the windows of opportunity so brief. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gMjpFX42

Let this #International Olympic Day 2024 be the #opportunity in reviving the importance of laying down the foundation of International Olympic Games. Promoting sports activities are always beneficial for one's #physical and mental health, hence these international days help in promoting and encouraging people to indulge in sports activities. Read the article about it in great detail: https://bit.ly/3yf7zua #Olympics #OlympicDay #internationalolympicday

The past few weeks have been truly inspiring as we witnessed athletes pursue their dreams with unwavering dedication, showcasing their passion and commitment on a global stage. Here are some valuable lessons and impactful messages I took from the games: 1. Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix (GB Diver): Showing your emotions and overcoming mental health obstacles is a remarkable strength. 2. Andrew Macdonald (GB Skateboarder): Age is no barrier – anything is possible. 3. Simone Biles (USA Gymnastics): Taking a break and prioritizing self-care can pave the way for a remarkable comeback. 4. Yusef Dikec (Turkey Shooter): Authenticity and humility can make you stand out in a crowd. What was the most inspiring moment for you, and how do you plan to incorporate it into your daily life? #ParisOlympics #Olympics2024 #Dedication #Resilience #Passion

Enjoying a little @chilipeppers as the @olympics #closingceremony wraps up… and couldn’t help but wonder… and maybe there’s a completely reasonable explanation for this, but… why do we have a separate @paralympics ? Is #blindfootball or being in awe of a person weighing 100# throwing up triple their weight any less amazing than breakdancing or non para-badminton? Both games are in Paris, but only one will dominate tv for 2 weeks, only one will be talked about around the water cooler, etc.. and I’ve not yet gotten into how fewer global sponsors, how much less star power stays on for the @paralympics - I’m guessing James, Phelps, etc won’t be making it back to see the para version of the sport that made them heroes… or opportunities for athletes with disabilities to get endorsement deals… hell, the first Paralympic athlete to get on the cover of a @wheatiescereal box was 2018! Over 25% of us have have a disability… yet the separation between “the disabled” and the rest of the world seems to be as strong as ever. The IOC chair praises inclusion, yet there is an entire subgroup of people that, in my opinion, are relegated to the annex of the Olympics… the kids table at turkey dinner… I say extend the Olympics another week, merge the events that you can (ie Men’s, Women’s, Men’s para, Women’s para… do we even need a different para archery event?), and be amazed at what the human spirit can achieve, despite the odds, the criticism, the nos or not having the body mechanics seemingly built for a chosen sport. #disabilityisnotinability @jenarnoldmd #fightthegoodfight #evenstevenolympics2028

What is the true value of your time? Consider the glory that was determined by just 0.005 seconds in the 100m dash at the Paris Olympics Men's Final. Athletes dedicate four relentless years to shave off each elusive 0.001 seconds, inching closer to their moment of glory. With 86,400 seconds in a day and 365 days in a year, we are bestowed with an abundance of time. How are we harnessing these precious moments? Are we channeling them effectively in our personal lives, professional endeavors, and self-growth? Every second is an opportunity to inch closer to our own version of glory. Time is precious. Let’s make every moment count. #parisolympics2024 #timemanagment

Sport Psychology at the Olympics: Part 16 Rivalry can be inspiring. It can motivate athletes to push the boundaries of themselves, their sport and even business. They can however lead to mutual disappointment if the rivalry does not include a healthy amount of respect and humility #sport #sportpsychology #athleticspsychology #athletics #paris2024 #paris #olympics #olympics2024 #kerr #ingebrigtsen #teamgb #teamusa

I don’t need to see what I’m doing…I’m just doing it by how it feels.” The 2024 Olympics have offered up some incredible sporting achievements but did you know some of the athletes are competing without being able to fully see the apparatus? This is a very interesting article about the significance of touch for elite athletes. US Gymanast Stephen Nedoroscik, who competed in the Olympics with sight loss, spoke about how the most important part for him is to feel, not see the apparatus. All humans use this sense of proprioception – sometimes called the ‘sixth sense’ – but these elite athletes are developing this skill to compensate for their sight loss with amazing results… And these senses are very important in the deafblind world! Like these athletes, many deafblind people build up a ‘mental image’ not only of a person or object, but their place in the surrounding room, to help them receive information, navigate and communicate with more confidence. Read more about the importance of touch and proprioception below-

Olympians are biohacking more than ever before to gain an edge at Paris 2024. I had an interview with Tony Wrighton, host of the Biohacking News podcast to discuss some of the methods that elite athletes use. For example, Switzerland’s Martin Dougoud uses hypnosis to visualize his path to the Canoe Slalom podium, a technique also used by Brazil’s Arthur Zanetti for his 2012 gymnastics gold. Listen to the show to hear us discuss these strategies used by Olympians to optimize their mind and body for peak performance.  https://lnkd.in/dVauqeWW #podcastepisode #biohackingpodcast #biohacking #brainstimulation #sportsmedicine #sportspsychology #hypnotherapy