Mindset of a Champion
“Every time we find a weakness, we find a key to the next breakthrough.”
In this special mindset session, Nicola Olyslagers shares an honest and practical look inside the mental approach that has helped her become one of the world’s most consistent high jumpers.
Nicola discusses how athletes can learn from setbacks, stay grounded under pressure, build confidence through process goals, and separate their identity from results. For coaches, the session offers valuable insight into how trust, simple cues, honest reflection and long term thinking can help athletes thrive, not just perform.
One of the strongest messages from the session is that mindset is trainable. Nicola explains that confidence, pressure management, adaptability and resilience are not fixed traits. They can be developed through reflection, repetition and the right training environment.
She also shares how her best performances have come from staying focused on what she can control. Rather than chasing medals, titles or comparison with others, Nicola talks about building a process that allows her to keep improving. Her approach is a reminder for athletes that progression is not always linear, and for coaches that development often requires patience, trust and brave conversations.
A standout part of the session is Nicola’s view on competition. She explains that her competitors are not threats, but people who help bring out her best. For track and field athletes, especially in events where competitors share the same runway, circle, pit, straight or bar, this is a valuable lesson in how to compete fiercely while still celebrating others.
Reflection Questions
What do you currently use to measure success?
Are your goals based only on results, or also on process?
How do you respond when an athlete misses, loses or plateaus?
What is one mental skill you could deliberately train this month?
