'Gold
Medal' Sport Psychology to Wilkinson is
Combining Body, Mind and Spirit
Laura
Wilkinson, 22-year-old UT student upset the favored Chinese divers at
the 2000 Sydney Olympics and won the gold medal in the women’s 10-meter
platform diving competition. Laura entered the final round of five dives
in eighth place and she advanced to fifth place after two rounds of dives.
In the third round, Laura 'ripped' her dive after which her competitors,
one after the other, faltered. Laura was suddenly leading and with two
dives remaining.
The 'Olympic Gold' became a contest of 'psychology'. Her coach, Kenny
Armstrong said, "Laura has the ability to keep her mind calm while
everyone else is losing theirs."
While preparing for
her fourth and most difficult dive, an inward 21/2 pike, Armstrong told
Laura, “Do it for Hilary,” referring to her former Olympic-caliber
teammate and friend killed in an auto accident in 1998. Through years
of coaching and mentoring Larua, Armstrong knew exactly what to say to
Laura. Laura said a prayer and took-off on her dive. It worked, and Laura
maintained her narrow lead. In the final round, Laura went first and the
pressure on her intensified as there was no 
room
for even the smallest deviation from near perfection. With absolute poise,
Laura recited a bible verse as she climbed the ladder to the 10 meter
high platform. Just like she had done through years of practice, she counted
to three and took-off, letting her body, mind and spirit work as one.
With this she secured the "Olympic Gold".
Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle
The
'Lesson'
Through this personal UT story, several important tenants of sound 'Sport
Psychology' are emphasized:
1)
Coaches must know their athletes individually to understand how to 'motivate'
them for the specific situation. It is sometimes appropriate to 'excite'
and sometimes to 'relax' the athlete. No one paradigm of visualization,
or relaxation etc., works for everyone, or under most situations.
2) Diving, like other sports requiring 'control' and a 'positive' touch
(e.g.; golf; basketball free-throwing) require that athletes find a 'zone'
that allows them to 'just let it happen,' without thinking about how to
perform. Laura has her own 'pre-movement ritual’ that allowed her
to clear her mind before each dive.
3) Success is generally
the result of athletes who ‘trust’ in their ability to perform
well and live ‘in the moment’. Laura did not consider what
would happen after her dive – good or bad. Instead, she placed total
focused on each dive and held nothing back