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     The psychology of athletics 
     
    
   
   
    
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     By Jane Antoniuk 
     
     Reprinted from the Charlatan by Canadian University Press 
     
    
   
   
    
     Canadian athletes seeking gold at the upcoming summer 
     
     lympics know it’s not just sweat, muscles and training that 
     
     I ake sport champions. Winning is all in the mind. 
     
    

    
     Under the close watch of nutritionists, specialized spous 
     
     octors, physical therapists and coaches, athletes are nearing 
     
     heir physical limits. Psychological training is now making the 
     
     ifference between Olympic gold and not qualifying for the 
     
     I edal round. 
     
    

    
     “I think the mind is what mostly affects the physical per- 
     
     ormance,” says Maria Bassakyros, 21, a discus thrower with 
     
     he Scarborough Optimist Track Club in Toronto. 
     
    

    
     Bassakyros uses a technique developed by University of 
     
     ttawa professor Terrngrlick, a pioneer in Canada’s fast 
     
     rowing corps of sports psychologists. 
     
    

    
     “A lot is decided before the gun goes (to start a race) in 
     
     erms of how you are thinking, whether you are say you can 
     
     ho it or you can’t do it,” sayd Orlick. “And how much you 
     
     fire committing yourself to push to the limit or take a risk in 
     
     Some sports. All that goes on before the event starts.” 
     
    

    
     Many .Canadian coaches and athletes are followers of 
     
    

    
     Orlick’s techniques, as outlined in his book, In Pursuit of 
     
     Excellence. , . 
     
     ‘ The former international class gymnast believes exercising 
     
     the mind in sports is a critical element at the elite level of 
     
     competition, where everyone is good, in great shape, 
     
     Committed and extensively trained. He gets athletes to block 
     
     Everything out of their heads except the sporting event. 
     
     Athletes go over in their minds every detail of a good 
     
     Performance. , ‘ ‘ 
     
    

    
     Bassakyros’ self relaxation techniques involve listening to a 
     
     lape of herself with music in the background, telling her to 
     
     relax starting with her toes. “Then at the point when my 
     
     ‘Ahole body is relaxed, I rest for three minutes and my voice 
     
     tells me to think of a time when i havehad a successful 
     
     happening.”  ' 
     
    

    
     Toronto shot putter Martino Calatan uses the same 
     
     "blocking out” techniques as Bassakyros. “I think only about 
     
     lhrowing the shot as far as I can and using all my energies. 
     
     Every little psychological edge helps.” - . 
     
    

    
     National throwing coach lvari Pintrac also uses Orlick’s 
     
     approach. “Psychological factors ’will influence our per- 
     
     formance,”'says'Pintrac. “Ltry'  (getlniy athletes to keep 
     
    
   
   
    
      
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
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     the rhythm the same on the day of competition as in practice, 
     
     and to be confident.” 
     
    

    
     Ottawa javelin coach Bill Heikkila is a strict disciple of 
     
     Orlick’s methods. His athletes mentally picture every detail 
     
     of how they felt during an ideal throw, right down to how 
     
     their grip on the javelin felt. 
     
    

    
     “Utlimately. they are able to switch it on and off so it 
     
     can rv-n through, brrrrrrrr, like a film in their heads. 
     
     If thev panick before a meet, their minds can kick in 
     
     and their bodies 'll automatically perform.” 
     
    
   
   
    
     After years of physical training, an athlete’s ability m . 
     
     rarely fluctuate" "as: n ‘ h” o the next during an 'fi-‘W 
     
     event like the Olympics. Whe- athletes are equally 
     
    
   
   
    
     trained mechanicallv 'nd phvsically, Orlick says, the - 
     
     winner is determined hv a". «hi'ity to control worry 
     
    

    
     and activationa' levels. b" N" centrating and focusing 4‘. 
     
     on the event. -  
     
    
   
   
    
     Canadians are on the edge of recognizing the value of mind 
     
     training in sports, says Orlick. Because physical training is 
     
     more equal among countries, athletes are looking for the 
     
     extra push to help them win. 
     
    

    
     “Canada and the United States are the best in this field 
     
     right now because we combine academic and applied back- 
     
     grounds in sports psychology,” says Orlick. “We have bright 
     
     and young psychologists who were also athletes.” 
     
    

    
     Orlick said Canadian work on sports psychology is 
     
     “snapped up by other countries and translated as quickly as 
     
     it comes out.” 
     
    

    
     Canadians in pursuit of excellence at the Los Angeles 
     
     summer Olympics will see if Orlick’s tough minded approach 
     
     to winning will pay off. ~ 
     
    
   
   
    
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