Olympic skier Eileen Gu says staying at the top is harder than winning
Olympic freestyle skier Eileen Gu discusses the psychological strategies she uses to maintain her competitive edge. She emphasizes the importance of a self-critical mindset during training and an 'alter ego' of supreme confidence during competitions.
Why it matters
Provides insight into the mental conditioning required for elite athletic performance and the challenges of sustaining success at the highest level.
Eileen Gu said she has an "alter ego" when she competes. Hector Vivas/Hector Vivas Eileen Gu said she has one simple mantra that helps keep her from getting complacent. Moreover, when training, she said she focuses only on what needs improvement. "For me, I see only my mistakes when I'm training. I can never do anything right," Gu said. Eileen Gu , the most decorated freestyle skier in Olympic history, said she switches into "contest mode" when she competes. Speaking to Jay Shetty on Monday's episode of the "On Purpose" podcast, Gu said she has a mantra that helps keep her performing at the highest level. "I train like I've never won, and I compete like I've never lost," Gu, 22, said. "That's important because A, I find it's difficult to win, but it's way harder to stay there."
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