Self-belief – the key to Olympic success that we can apply in our world.

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Two short almost throwaway conversations initiated by BBC tv presenters on day 11 at the London 2012 Olympics give a revealing insight to what it takes to succeed at the highest level. And it’s nothing to do with talent.

During a lull in the Velodrome prior to Victoria Pendleton’s last race at the London 2012 Olympics, BBC commentator Jake Humphrey asked the engaging and insightful pundit Jamie Staff – GB sprint team gold medallist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and now USA Cycling’s sprint coach  – what was the one big lesson that he took back to the states having been part of the GB track team set up for so many years.

Initially and very briefly, Staff acknowledged the importance of having the right structure in place (from grass roots right up to elite level). More revealingly, he explained: ‘it’s to get the cyclists to believe’ and to set their sights very high. That in his view, being the best in the US doesn’t cut it. ‘If you want to believe that it’s about being best in America then you’re not for me’.

For Staff it’s about being the best in the world and challenging for medals. His belief is that success is achieved through a combination of talent, structure, support and self-belief.

Later, in the Olympic stadium, following the Men’s High Jump Final, Team GB’s bronze medallist Robbie Grabarz told BBC’s trackside commentator Phil Jones his story…

A year ago he was ‘wasting too much time. I wasn’t really applying myself. I sat down with my coach at the end of last year and he gave me a good telling off… You’re better than this. Go away and if you don’t want it, don’t come back.’

For Robbie Grabarz, talent, the right structure and support weren’t enough. As with the cyclists, self-belief made the difference. It fuelled the discipline and commitment he needed to succeed.

So if it’s about talent, structure, support and self-belief, what can we take away from elite athletes and their coaches and apply to being the best we can be in our world?

  1. Have you/your team got the talent?
  2. What are you doing to foster and draw it out?
  3. Do you have the appropriate structure and support in place?
  4. Do you/your team have the self-belief to succeed and consistently perform at the highest level?
  5. Who coaches you/your team to success?

What do you think? What’s your experience? Post a reply. It will be great to hear from you.

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