Eric Heiden Quotes

I am a big believer in visualization. I run through my races mentally so that I feel even more prepared.

The only thing I want to think about the moments before a race is competing. I don't want the little things to distract me.

I love to prepare if it's something that requires training. But I don't like to prepare the psychology too much.

I have a race routine. I have a team of people helping me. I have winning habits. I believe in myself. I have balance in my life.

I'm supposed to relax and concentrate on the image of myself out there skating my race.

When I'm starting a race, I just completely narrow down my vision and focus on what's directly ahead of me.

I like visualizing a lot, so the night before a competition and right before, I will visualize myself. I'll close my eyes, turn away from everybody, and just see myself doing exactly what I want to accomplish.

Before a race, I block out what's going on in the stadium. It's different for everyone. But for me, I've always been able to block it out. For a sprint race, it's important not to get distracted.

I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon as I see the targets, I tune them out.

Mentally, my key is just focusing on the little things I need to do in a race, whether that's tempo, turn entry, start speed, things like that. I'm not thinking about that much before or during a race. I just trust in my ability and all the hard work I put in and let the race come to me.

Thinking about your role will automatically get you in the frame of mind to get your strategy and game plan right before you step onto that field.

But if I played well and prepared myself properly, then all I had to do was control myself and put myself in a position to win.

When the gun fires you must concentrate for every second on the way to that finish line. You should know exactly how long it will take you to and think about every step of the race you are about to run.

When I go out on the ice, I just think about my skating. I forget it is a competition.

Before a match, I need to be alone. I need to reach concentration and focus on the game ahead of me.

When I go on a pitch, I just try to enjoy it as much as I can. The more you enjoy it, the better you play.

I prepare for every game the same.

I actually rid myself of superstitions, but I do a quick 20-minute meditation before games.

I've always been quiet in the dressing room before the game. I try to focus and give everything.

When you envision something in your head over and over again, it's like a movie placing you in that position, and once you are there you're ready.

When I'm about to play in a big match, I take things easy.

At the start of every game, you are focussed on the game you are playing, so you don't look back at previous games.

When I get onto the pitch, I block out everything around it, and I really focus on the pitch.

For me, I like to imagine being successful. I like to imagine the end, which is success. I envision it, where I can actually see it happening. Going into the ring, seeing the fight happen, seeing me winning that belt, seeing me back in my dressing room celebrating with a slice of cake, which I always had. And the same with meetings. I do prepare though; that confidence comes from preparation, because that fear is in the back of your head of not doing well, of not saying the right thing or having the right information. That's where the preparation comes in for me.

I daydream too. I visualise. I think ahead, I can do it now, sitting here. I think ahead to the walk-in, I can hear the crowd, the music, I can feel the cameras all around me, I can feel movements in my body as I am heading there, I can bring up that incredible feeling you get when you step into the cage.