Athletes have suggested they use a variety of mental training and preparation techniques in their quest for Olympic glory, including: goal-setting (Weinberg, Burton, Yukelson, & Weigand, 2000), pre-performance routines (Gould, Eklund, & Jackson, 1992a), attentional focus and performance imagery (Orlick & Partington, 1988). However, few studies to date have retrospectively asked Olympic champions what they did to prepare for Olympic gold. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of Olympic gold medalists` use of psychological skills during preparation for their Olympic gold medal performance. Both team and individual Olympic gold medal winners participated in semi-structured interview sessions. Analyses revealed that all athletes in the current study utilized strategies and techniques previously identified in the literature. Specifically, analyses revealed four major themes: process focus, imagery, self-talk, and goal-setting.
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