Cheers, hustle and bustle, cheerfulness. The young Swiss do it. They show that success must be celebrated and that looseness and performance apparently go hand in hand.
But not only the “celebration until you fall over” (© Franjo von the general), but also the (sober) well-being on the ski is currently the very best works at the Swiss men’s team. “When I have fun, I’m always fast,” says Alexis Monney. And even colleagues of Allmen tries if he wants to be quick to “have fun skiing”.
Happiness hormones
Also with the ÖSV downhill vice world champion of Saalbach, Mirjam Puchner, In her interviews, it was noticeable how much she emphasized that she had been looking forward to the race so much in advance.
So is joy the key to success?
The courier asked Mental coach Wolfgang Seidl after. In any case, that’s a key, he says. “Joy is such an intense feeling that you feel in the whole body. This reduces happiness hormones, such as dopamine“, He explains.
“It is said that this makes you more energetic.” Studies also show, according to the mental coach, that this hormone release too Concentration and responsiveness increased. The result: greater attention and alertness.
“I think joy comes about when you feel comfortable on the track,” says Mirjam Puchner. A anticipation like that before the World Cup departure from Saalbach “I rarely felt like this before. That was almost scary, ”she says.
It is certain that this state brings “a certain looseness and security”. “If you are happy, you don’t think too much and have a plan that you play.”
ÖSV-Star Mirjam Puchner happy onbut also above The race
Johnson to Shiffrin: “Don’t do it because of the medal”
Conversely, it should be Mikaela Shiffrin were before they started this World Cup. Before the team combination, she made her post-traumatic stress disorder public. Instead of joy in skiing, she was afraid, she described.
But apparently her team partner had Breezy Johnson Exactly the right recipe for the best of all time: “Don’t do it because of the medal,” said the world’s world champion to Shiffrin. “”Just do it out of fun!“The record winner” inspired “in her mental deep”, she said after the race on Tuesday, which gave them the gold medal.
Childlike joy
“This childish joy is often lost in top sport”explains Mental coach Seidl. It all only turns performance, points, money and sponsors. “Through this Athletes often cramp.“
Not every athlete manages to surround the switch here. Many rely on mental training. Finally, that also had about Marco Odermatt explained. His trainer gives him certain skills in the season, which he recalls on the tour.
“You try to deliberately direct the focus on positive things,” says Seidl. “For example, the athlete tries to be grateful to be able to practice his favorite sport as a profession. The weather, the slopes, the viewers, the turns, the speed, the inclined position … to enjoy all of this again and remember why they started this sport. ”This focus can be massively increasing in the crucial moments, so The mental coach.
At the push of a button
Of course, you cannot cause joy and well -being at the push of a button, says Mirjam Puchner. She knows that the external circumstances often influence positive or negative feelings. “The training days also contribute a lot.”
The basis is still a good technique, says Julia Scheib. “I see in training that the run fits, then I can hide other things. “If you can concentrate on skiing, then you are usually quick.” She goes to the next World Cup race with a huge joy. Maybe a good omen.