You’ve seen it happen. Your kid trains like a champ. They’re all fired up for race day. And then… total meltdown. Why does this happen? For a lot of swimmers, it comes down to one thing: worry. - “What if I don’t swim fast?” - “What if everyone thinks I’m terrible?” - “What if that kid in the next lane beats me?” It’s like their brain turns into a hamster on a wheel, running wild with “what-ifs.” And when their brain is stuck there, they can’t just swim. Here’s something else: A lot of this worry is tied to self-esteem. Basically, they believe their value as a person depends on how they perform. If they swim great, they’re awesome. If they mess up, they’re a failure. No pressure, right? This leads to overthinking, comparing themselves to everyone else, and choking when it matters most. So what’s the fix? Self-acceptance. Swimmers who accept themselves—flaws, bad races, and all—tend to handle pressure way better. They’re calmer. More focused. And they actually enjoy racing. Think about the top swimmers. They’re not just fast; they’re confident, humble, and don’t seem to let the pressure get to them. That’s because they don’t tie their self-worth to their times. How Can Your Swimmer Build Self-Acceptance? Here are some things that actually help: ✅ Focus on effort and improvement, not just medals or times. ✅ Track workouts to show how far they’ve come (even little wins). ✅ Set realistic goals that challenge them, but don’t overwhelm them. ✅ Teach them to appreciate swimming—good races, bad races, and everything in between. ✅ Remind them that swimming isn’t just a sport; it’s something they love. These are small changes, but over time, they can shift the way your swimmer thinks. When they stop worrying about what could go wrong and start trusting themselves, they’re free to perform their best. But what do YOU think? Does focusing on self-acceptance really help swimmers race better? Or is it unrealistic in a sport that’s all about winning? Drop your thoughts below—this is going to be a fun discussion. 👇

I really didn’t expect to share with you another competition results this week, but Leon has just won 2 x 3rd place / bronze medal today at became a multimedalist! What is the most important, he was CALM before the race, and was doing breathing excersises David had taught him. Many thanks, we’re over the moon!

Hi, just wanted to share with you my son’s latest progres, within 1 month he improved his results by 4s freestyle and 2s20 backstroke. Although pre-race anxious he focused on breathing following David’s instructions and it worked!

***IMPORTANT UPDATE: Add the Live Training directly to Your Calendar*** You know how pilots have a pre-flight checklist before they take off? They know it can be the difference between a smooth flight and a disaster. Well, for Short-Course Nationals, every second matters just as much. If you’re ready to walk up to that block with unshakable confidence—no jitters, no doubts—then join me in 8 days. I’m hosting a 45-minute live training on Zoom, where I’ll take you step-by-step through the exact pre-competition checklist I use with my private clients. You’ll know exactly what to do before every race, so you’re in control of your performance. No overthinking, no hesitation—just full speed ahead. Drop a 🔥 below, and I’ll DM you the link to register. Spots are limited to 30 swimmers or swimmer parents.

🚀 Your Action Steps 🚀 Step 1: Claim your 30-Day Improvement Plan Step 2: Watch the Simple 5 Steps To Overcome Pre-Race Anxiety video 💭 Our Mission 💭 To make young swimmers strong for the future using competitive swimming. ⚙️ MindGym Process ⚙️ The exact step-by-step process of how the sports psychologist of Michael Phelps helped me turn my pre-race anxiety into motivation and the best performances of my life (Olympic Games 2012) in 1 year using simple breathing and visualization techniques. ❌ No woo-woo stuff ❌ No hour-long meditations ❌ No "if I do this for 6 months I hope I will eventually see results" Yes, 3mins/day is enough to change your child's swimming career forever. ... and make the National Team or represent your country at international competitions and even the Olympics. It's worked for 100's of competitive swimmers at all levels, it'll work for your child too.