‘Mental toughness’ is something pro athletes think about all the time. You’ll often hear successful teams and athletes attributing mental toughness as the secret ingredient that leads to glory.

Mental toughness has definitely played an important role in my story. My sports career was definitely one full of adversities, and my journey to becoming Ghana’s first ever Skeleton Winter Olympics athlete was fraught with obstacles. If I wasn’t tough mentally, I would not be who I am and where I am today.

So, if mental toughness is critical to success, how do athletes develop this key trait when the going gets tough?

So, without any further ado, let’s delve into the subject of mental toughness: What it is and what it’s not.

You’re Not Born with It

Let’s start by clearing one common misconception about mental toughness: it’s not biological, and there’s not genetic code for it. It’s something that you have to build and develop within yourself, and it’s about much more than sucking it up and being a tough guy/gal.

Mental Toughness: What Is It, Exactly?

To put it in a nutshell, mental toughness is a developed skill that helps you deal and cope with difficult situations. Its’ broad term that indicates how strong your overall mental game is.

Now, being tough mentally will not guarantee you victory; nothing will. However, it will certainly help you overcome adversity, thus allowing you the opportunity to succeed. However, I think that everyone has a slightly different idea of mental toughness. To me, mental toughness is the ability to stay committed, motivated, and focused when things aren’t going for you. My mental toughness was really tested in 2012, when an injury ruled me out of the Olympic Games. I had worked really hard for it, and the disappointment was crushing.

However, I persevered and worked hard to come back stronger and more determined than ever.

Developing Mental Toughness: Some Tips

Here’s a step-by-step guide on developing mental toughness as an athlete:

1. Anticipate what might shake your confidence or composure during competition, such as a hostile audience.

2. Envision how you’ll deal with this obstacle, such as telling yourself that you’re being booed because the crowd knows you’re a threat, and gaining confidence from that

3. Try to replicate these situations in training so you can become acclimatized to performing under pressure.

4. Evaluate your performance and determine coping techniques that work and what you can do differently in the next session.

As a former athlete and Olympian who’s faced more than their fair share of obstacles and setbacks in their career, I know how important mental toughness is when you’re competing on the highest level. It drove me from being just another African sprinter to becoming the first Ghanaian skeleton athlete. Currently, I’m training for the next winter Olympics while also working as a motivational speaker. I’m Akwasi Frimpong and you can learn more about my story here.