The Mental Coach: A Key Pillar of Elite Performance

In elite sport, the difference between victory and defeat is not decided solely by physical strength or technical skills. It is also and above all decided in the mind.

In my own career, mental training was a decisive turning point. It was through this work that I was able to win the bronze medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Yet when I began my preparation, mental coaching was still very underdeveloped in Olympic sailing.

1. A Mental Revolution in My Preparation

Bringing a mental coach into my preparation was not an obvious step.
But driven by my coach’s vision, I began a deep, structured, and innovative mental training process.

This coaching gave me:

• • • better stress management

    • greater clarity in uncertainty

    • more perspective to analyze races

    • a stronger ability to bounce back after mistakes

    • a solid mindset despite fatigue and emotional fluctuations

Each race is a mental roller coaster.
The mental coach helped me stay clear-headed over time.

2. A Sport Where the Mind Is Constantly Tested

Olympic sailing imposes unique challenges:

• • • long and intense races

    • several races per day over a full week

    • endless waiting on the water

    • unpredictable weather

    • physical and nervous fatigue

    • total focus on the present moment

Between races, emotions can change very quickly.

Losing mental control means losing the race.
Staying stable means staying in the game.

Mental coaching taught me to:

• • • accept my emotions

    • channel my energy

    • maintain long-lasting concentration

    • use stress as a driver, not a threat

3. A Unique Method: Total Immersion and Real-World Application

Unlike the classic “one hour per week” approach, I chose intensive training blocks lasting several days, followed by application phases over several weeks.

This method made it possible to:

• • • explore each theme in depth

    • identify solutions truly adapted to me

    • test these tools directly on the water

    • continuously adjust them

Breathing, visualization, mental routines, emotional regulation — every tool had to be embodied, not just understood.

This approach allowed me to build a true mental toolbox.

4. Self-Awareness: The Key to Mental Performance

Over time, I understood that the mind is not a “bonus.” It is a pillar.

Mental coaching taught me to:

• • • identify my internal states

    • understand my reactions

    • regulate my emotions

    • transform pressure into useful energy

Performance begins with self-awareness.

5. The Decisive Role of the Head Coach

Mental work is not done alone.
It is a team effort.

My head coach immediately understood that the mental dimension was just as important as technique.
So we worked as a trio: the head coach, the mental coach, and me.

This collaboration strengthened:

• • • our in-race communication

    • our ability to adjust in real time

    • our mutual stress management

    • our emotional cohesion

At the London 2012 Olympic Games, this dynamic made all the difference.

6. Two Mental Coaches, Two Approaches: Sport Then Business

Over the course of my career, I worked with two very different mental coaches.

A coach from the sports world
→ essential to understand technical demands, race pressure, and field reality.

A coach from the business world (Tokyo 2020)
→ a complementary approach focused on:

• • • stress management

    • fast decision-making

    • leadership

    • projection into life after sport

This second coaching allowed me to connect elite sport with the business world. Preparing performance is also preparing what comes after.

Conclusion: A Key Partner in Sustainable Performance

The mental coach is neither a luxury nor a bonus.
He or she is a pillar for navigating uncertainty, pressure, fatigue, and intense emotions.

In sport as in business, sustainable performance is built on:

• • • self-awareness

    • emotional management

    • clarity

    • communication

    • the ability to make fast and effective decisions

The mind is your first performance lever.

If you would like to support your teams on these challenges?
Discover my keynote talks, immersive workshops, or executive coaching programs.

👉 Contact me to learn more!