Here are the top 10 habits of Olympians

10. They want to win

This is the, “Well, duh!” moment.“Winning” means different things to different people. Chances are you’re not going to be the best in the world at your chosen sport but you can be better than you currently are...much better, if you adopt a winning attitude. Set those ambitious goals and chase them. Achieve those goals and you’re a winner.

9. They get enough rest and sleep

Olympians don’t get better during training, they improve during the rest afterwards.

Beijing Olympian Ryan Hall says it was lack of proper rest that cost him a better marathon performance in 2008. It’s also important to make sure you sleep well in order to maintain your performance.

8. They don't allow for distractions

People who are beginner or intermediate runners get a motivational boost from listening to music, that helps them to perform better. It creates a “dissociative state” where they are distracted from the pain and boredom of training.

Olympians are different. When you push to the wall you can’t afford such distractions. You need to be in an “associative state” where you are closely in tune with your body. You have to embrace that pain, then find and test your limits. Your limits are not found on an elliptical trainer while watching Jerry Springer. They’re found charging up a hill with lungs burning like they’re being sandpapered. Lose the tunes and chase the feeling of breathing in fire ants.

7. They use the right gear

You may not need to invest in high-tech workout clothes, but pulling out your old high-school gym shorts and tennis shoes to go for a run is just a bad idea. Padded cycling shorts are a must for any man looking to protect his gear, properly fitted running shoes enhance comfort and performance, and high-quality gym wear looks and feels better that some paint-stained T-shirt.You can ski better on top-notch equipment and ride faster on a carbon-fiber road bike. I know from experience that an expensive sea kayak is much better than a cheap one. Make this investment in yourself and I guarantee positive ROI.

6. They get professional help

Coaching makes all the difference for a champion, and it can for you as well. If you want to run a marathon, you don’t just head out the door, but instead sign up for a marathon training clinic or, at the very least, talk to those who know.

You also don’t head into a gym with no clue about lifting weights and jump right into the squat rack or bench press. To be your most effective, get the best results and avoid injury, you need to seek advice from the pros. 

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5. They view food as fuel

There are two types of motivations for eating: hedonic and homeostatic. Hedonic means you eat for pleasure, and homeostatic mean you eat to meet your body’s energy requirements. Guess which one Olympians follow?

In order to perform, you need rocket-fuel juice, not fast-processed crap. Learn how exercise can make you start viewing food as a source of healthy fuel instead of a source of (guilty) pleasure.

Find out more about good food for your fitness

4. They track their progress

In order to achieve new heights of excellence, an Olympian must know where he has been. Charting your progress is a powerful motivational tool. Not only can you see how much you've accomplished but you also gain insight into what methods work for you and where you need to improve.

3. They don't let injury derail them

Gymnast Paul Hamm won gold in 2004, but a hand injury forced him to withdraw from Beijing in 2008. After rehab and training, he’s attempting a comeback for 2012. There are a myriad of other examples of Olympians suffering devastating sports injuries and coming back to win more medals, so don’t let your "owies" derail you into becoming a couch potato. The answer to your pain and suffering is not to be found on the couch, but by intelligently taking action.

This is where sport and career collide, repetitive thoughts of affirmation and self empowerment

2. Set Ambitious Goals

Olympians want to be the best in the world at what they do. And when they accomplish that, they want to be even better. Swimmer Michael Phelps won six gold medals and two bronze in Athens in 2004. Most athletes would have been happy with even one medal but Phelps wasn't satisfied and in 2008 he decided he could do better. In Beijing, he won an unbelievable eight gold. In 2012, he’s easing off a little, and won’t be competing in eight events, but don’t be surprised if still he captures several gold medals this summer in London.

Set great goals by following some of these useful tips

1. Love your sport(s)

Champion gymnast Kyle Shewfelt told me his mother put him in gymnastics to save her couch and bed. “Gym was what I thought about all day. Hockey for me was a drag,” he said to me. And cross-country skiing gold medalist Chandra Crawford told me in an interview, “My passion for the sport and people who enjoy propelling themselves through a winter landscape along with me is something I tap into even in my racing."

It’s not about finding something that’s the best calorie-burner or muscle-builder, but something that drives you to be your best at. It can almost consume your thoughts with an overriding desire to push toward awesome.

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