Is mental strength important for success in sport or is it more important to be strong and fit for success in sport? Discuss both views and give your opinion.

The factors contributing to
performance
in
sport
are continually being investigated by
sports
scientists and
athletes
. While some people would argue that a person’s physical attributes determine their
level
of
performance
in
sport
, I believe that mental conditioning is
also
a highly important factor. On one hand, it is undeniable to say that a person’s physical characteristics play a major role in their
performance
in
sport
. In some
sports
, being able to run extremely fast, or lift or throw something very heavy is one of the main aspects of the
sport
. Without a strong physical body, and a high
level
of coordination, people would not be able to perform to a high
level
. Take many Olympic
sports
for example
. In the 100m sprint,
athletes
need to have powerful legs in order to be able to run at high speeds. There is of course some mental conditioning needed, but without strong legs, you cannot compete at a high
level
. Another good example is Olympic weightlifting. The basis of being able to lift extremely heavy weights is powerful, conditioned muscles.
However
, high levels of
strength
and fitness are not the only factor that allows
athletes
to perform well. To be able to consistently perform at a very high
level
,
athletes
also
need to be mentally strong. Professional
athletes
in particular
need to have the determination and focus to be able to continually train and perform for many years, despite the many setbacks that they may face ,
such
as injuries and loss in the competition. Being able to mentally focus and concentrate whilst under pressure during a competition is
also
extremely important.
For example
, maintaining composure whilst being surrounded by thousands of screaming fans when trying to kick the winning penalty kick in a football match would be extremely difficult, and
this
is where mental
strength
is highly important. In conclusion,
although
physical
strength
and ability are highly important in
sports
performance
, mental
strength
and focus
also
play an important role, particularly when it comes to elite
athletes
and high levels of
performance
and competition.
Submitted by thanhhai29102000 on

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