Anna Shcherbakova: “When I faced a tough period in my career, my parents suggested finding a sports psychologist. At the time, I took offense to the idea and refused outright. Looking back, I think it was the right decision.”
Anna Shcherbakova on Rejecting a Sports Psychologist and Navigating Life After Sport
original source: MatchTV
Olympic champion Anna Shcherbakova shared that she chose to rely on herself rather than work with a sports psychologist, as she believes in resolving emotional challenges independently. She also reflected on her strong-willed personality, teenage years, and evolving relationship with her parents after turning 18. Here’s a translation of her comments.
“I feel like my main psychologist is myself,” Shcherbakova explained.
“When I faced a tough period in my career that came with psychological challenges, my parents suggested finding a sports psychologist. At the time, I took offense to the idea and refused outright. Looking back, I think it was the right decision. Processing things on my own allowed me to fully understand myself, and after I worked through those difficulties, I was consistently able to perform at my best. Now, I believe using a psychologist is absolutely normal – what matters most is that it helps the person feel better.”
“Q: Have you experienced the downside of having a strong personality?
Anna Shcherbakova: Probably, yes. If I have a certain opinion, it’s pretty difficult to change my mind.
Q: Are there people who can make you reconsider your viewpoint?
Anna Shcherbakova: Of course. I can hear out different perspectives. The first people I turn to for advice are my parents. I may agree with them, or I may stick to my original opinion.
Q: Did you experience a rebellious teenage phase?
Anna Shcherbakova: I had similar moments, though I think mine was delayed because the discipline required in sport left little room for anything else. When I turned 18 and began life after sport, it was like entering a whole new phase: exciting, unfamiliar, and entirely different. Everything felt new – I was maturing and changing. Naturally, my relationship with my parents also evolved. When you grow up, you start expressing your own opinions, and in the first year or so, it felt like we were adjusting to each other. But now, our relationship is more like that of adults with adult.”
Related topics: Anna Shcherbakova
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