Pure Focus – Target Mastery

When I think of the sport of Biathlon I am always amazed how the competitors push their mind and bodies to the limit cross-country skiing and then have to slow down to shoot targets. When watching the Olympics I witnessed a masterclass from an Italian Biathlete, Dorothea Wierer. With total focus and precision she hit all five targets and carried on her way. So easy to say, so challenging to do though! Let’s break it down as the video (see below for link) starts and imagine what mental skills she would have been using to pull of this feat in such a rapid time. 

1. Focused on one thing at a time she would concentrated on her skiing heading into the shooting area. 
2. Just before shooting she would have managed her breath to bring down in heart rate and steady her rifle. 
3. While breathing she perhaps stated 2 to 3 key cue words to herself to bring her into the zone before shooting. 
4. As she looked down her rifle site with her gaze set, known as ‘Quiet Eye’, just before squeezing the trigger trusting her training. 
5. Squeezes the trigger, hit!, deep breath, squeezes the trigger, hit!, then self-talk cue (i.e., “I am doing this”) as she takes a deep breath and exhales, through the next three targets. Hits the next three! All 5 hit!
6. Self-Talk, “I’ve got this” then she skis off again. 

At Sport as Life learn the skills it takes to engage in a routine like this for consistent and effective performance. Contact us to start your training!