Anthony J. Klarica

The Performance Mindset


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freshly crowned world champion and world number one, she was asked by a coach to speak to a group of young female athletes and give them some inspiration. Upon introduction, one of the girls in the group politely enquired if she could ask a question. ‘Sure,’ Jacqui replied, thinking it would be about one of her achievements. Rather, the query was ‘Are you the acrobatic moron?’ The junior was Lydia Lassila, who became a training partner and teammate and progressed to win gold ahead of Jacqui 11 years later at the 2010 Winter Olympics. ‘We still laugh about it today,’ Jacqui said.

      Then, in 1989, Jacqui met Geoff Lipshut, the current CEO of the Australian Winter Institute and the chef de mission for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. ‘He's a blend of Mr Myagi from The Karate Kid and Yoda from Star Wars,’ Jacqui recalled. ‘He literally saw me jumping on a trampoline that was next to the road when he was driving past. He was in the area to visit another athlete. The next day he met my parents, and that started my journey in aerial skiing. I was 16 years old. He put forward a 10‐year plan, and 10 years later he was there when the plan was achieved.’

      Lipshut also nurtured the development and careers of Kristie Marshall, Alisa Camplin and Lydia Lassila, who all competed for Australia. Lassila was in a transition program for people leaving gymnastics who might be interested in aerial skiing. He happened to be at the Royal Melbourne Show one day and saw Alisa Camplin playing on a trampoline. Again he asked her parents if she might be interested in aerial skiing. Camplin went on to win an Olympic gold ahead of Jacqui at the 2006 Winter Olympics. If not for those lucky encounters, I wonder if Jacqui or Alisa would have gone on to become the athletes they did.

      Each of these aerial skiers followed a unique path that wasn't based solely on physical talent. They started out with a degree of talent and different experiences, but mindset enabled their persistence. Jacqui broke no junior records and was not a high achiever in any sport. She played multiple sports as a junior, but drew on an intrinsic passion, patience and energy, as well as the support and encouragement of others.

      One of the many sports I have worked in over the years is swimming. Swimming clubs and squads include a wide mix of athletes with diverse motivations, from general fitness to social connections and Olympic aspirations. During adolescence, when many of their peers enjoy sleeping in, swimming squads begin training before school when it's still dark. After school, it's often back to the pool.

      In early adulthood they receive no, or minimal, financial reward for their efforts, though it can consume much of their time, energy and emotional resources. Pool training is often complemented by gym and various other strength and conditioning sessions. For years on end parents, as their personal drivers and supports, wake before dawn to act as chauffeur to and from training sessions. I have seen early bolters win national championships and fade away when their priorities change or because of injury. Meanwhile late bloomers can rise from the foundation of their training to peak at national championships and gain selection to state or national teams in late adolescence or early adulthood.

       Research insights

      Research has found that being a finalist at World Junior Swimming Championships did not predict success at open world championships. Only 17 per cent of athletes were finalists at both juniors and opens; 83 per cent of open finalists were not represented at the junior finals. The factor that was found to have a positive impact on open performance was number of years at world championships.15

      Based on my own experience, the finding that over 80 per cent of open swimming finalists were not represented at junior championship finals did not surprise me. Variation in physical growth during adolescence is only one variable that contributes to performance at all junior competitions, not just swimming. The impact of school and the development of different variables such as skills and fitness at different stages of growth can also impact both development and performance at junior levels. Support and encouragement to continue with a sport are also key factors.

      Even with well‐developed programs in Australia in a range of sports, the transition to senior performance is not easy. The tennis and swimming data from the world stage presented are only two examples of this. How sports best support young people who choose either to leave or to stay in a sport beyond junior years becomes a critical factor. Certainly many sports need to improve in this space.

       competing demands such as education and schooling

       conflicting social interests

       lack of or stress about finances

       perceived or actual lack of support

       challenging family or personal circumstances

       injuries

       lack of confidence about performing at higher levels

       difficulty with transition from junior to senior sport

       lack of access to programs

       negative experiences

       lack or loss of enjoyment

       low or diminished peer relationships in the sport

       dejection from not being selected into talent pathways or programs

       personal or behavioural challenges that arise from maintaining a sporting lifestyle and feeling they are ‘missing out’ compared to non‐sport peers

       perceived lack of success or not valuing performance in the sport

       choosing and preferring to spend time doing something else.