“Once I get to the day of my race, I know I’ve done everything I can to be at my best, so I just try to enjoy it and have fun doing what I love! I usually get more excited than nervous before my races, but if I do get nervous at all I just think about all the training I’ve done and try to relax and have fun. I’m pretty competitive and I love to race so a couple minutes of pain is always worth it.” – Emily Overholt, Olympic swimmer

“During competition when fatigue sets in I usually just remember the words from my coach “just relax and lift.” Mental blocks I overcome by just remembering this is something I enjoy doing and I rather be running track than in class or at work it’s all fun. – Brendon Rodney, Olympic sprinter 

“If you’re drained, you always have to push through because if you have a goal you have to do everything you need to do to achieve it. So every time I’m in a really bad mood or I’m tired I always think of the goal and why I’m doing it, which is the most important thing you have to think. No matter how low you get, there is always a reason you’re doing it – so you have to find that inside of you.” – Meaghan Benfeito, Canadian Olympic diver