It was August 8, 2012. David Cal lined up in Lane 7 for the C1 1000m final at the London Olympics. The water was steadier than expected, but the weight of the occasion was undeniable. His first stroke lacked precision. Yet, with 999 meters to go, there was plenty of time to adjust.
However, for the first part of the race, Cal lagged behind the leading group. At the 250m mark, he was still in 6th place. Doubts could have crept in—after all, he had already claimed two medals in Athens 2004 and another two in Beijing 2008. Four Olympic medals are a feat few achieve, and perhaps others in the field were hungrier for glory.
But Cal didn’t panic. His strokes remained steady; only he knew his strategy and it was clear in his mind. He conserved energy, waiting for the right moment. As the final stretch approached, he surged with power and precision, closing the gap on Germany’s Sebastian Brendel.
Brendel held his lead, but Cal’s late charge secured him the silver medal—a testament to his emotional control and unyielding focus.
This wasn’t just a display of skill. It was a masterclass in emotional management. Cal knew how to quiet his mind, trust his potential, and let his effort speak. His emotional control turned a grueling race into another triumph in a storied career.
Emotional management is a crucial aspect of mental training for Super-Champions. In competitive sports, where the physical and mental demands are intense, our ability to regulate emotions can greatly impact performance outcomes. Managing our emotions helps us maintain focus, resilience, and composure under pressure, transforming potentially disruptive feelings into sources of motivation and energy. This chapter explores why emotional management is vital in high-stakes environments and outlines foundational strategies to build this skill.
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EKAITZ SAIES 
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