“Enjoy the whole process, not just the end result. And, probably, dream less about big victories, set realistic short-term goals for yourself and achieve them.”Advices from Anna Shcherbakova
Translation of Anna Shcherbakova’s comments about dealing with stress and pressure in competitions.
original source: MatchTV
The 2022 Olympic champion in singles figure skating, Anna Shcherbakova, sharedhow she deals with stress and pressure in an interview with MatchTV. Here’s a translation of her comments.
“Q: You’ve been involved in figure skating since childhood and have participated in many competitions. Do you still experience stress before performances? How do you think, is it possible to completely get rid of stress, especially for athletes with a lot of experience?
Anna Shcherbakova: Stress is not always a bad thing. From my own experience, I have understood that moderate stress even helps to create a competitive mood, mobilize resources, and give your all. Therefore, in particular, after competitions, there is often a feeling of devastation to some extent.
I think it’s better not to learn to completely get rid of stress, but rather to learn how to manage it and direct it in the right direction.
Q: Before competitions, it’s very important for many athletes to find a way to immerse themselves and focus. How do you set yourself up before an important performance?
Anna Shcherbakova: What scares me more often is the unknown when I do not know what to expect and what to prepare for. However, before performances, I always know what form I am in and what my goal is for these competitions. This helps me cope with stress and remain focused.
Q: What advice would you give to athletes dealing with fear in order to manage emotions and achieve their best results?
Anna Shcherbakova: Of course, we are all different. However, I can highlight a few points that have always helped me.
It’s really important to love what you do. Enjoy the whole process, not just the end result. And, probably, dream less about big victories, set realistic short-term goals for yourself and achieve them.”
Related topics: Anna Shcherbakova
All great advice!