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.