In a recent interview with SwimSwam the Head Coach of the Australian National Team Jacco Verharen explained that the most common and important trait he sees in athletes that stand on the podium at the Olympics is emotional stability, “Emotional stability for a swimmer is incredibly important,” said Verharen. “Not to get to excited and definitely not get too depressed.”
“Besides your talent, your technique and your training if it comes down to the day itself your stability is basically the thing that will save you.”
Olympic champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo was coached by Verharen when she achieved her greatest success at the 2012 Games in London. In this interview, which was recorded during the training camp she is currently at in Thailand, Kromowidjojo talks about how she addresses that emotional stability.
She discusses her pre-race rituals and the strategies she uses to changes her self talk in both training and competition environments.
Kromowidjojo, who finished second in the 50 freestyle at the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, currently ranks fourth in the world in the 100 freestyle (53.31) and 10th in the world in the 50 freestyle (24.73).
