EKAITZ SAIES

After missing out on the opportunity to race at the London 2012 Olympics, I decided to give more attention to my academic career and enrolled in a Master’s degree with the intention of doing a PhD afterwards. During one of the assignments for that Master’s, I came across Carol Dweck’s work on motivation and growth mindset, and it really helped me understand how I could help athletes develop their potential.

In high-performance sport, mindset can be the difference between reaching your full potential and falling short of your capabilities. Carol Dweck, a renowned psychologist, introduced the concept of fixed and growth mindsets, which has had a profound impact on me.

A fixed mindset is the belief that talent and abilities are static — you either have them or you don’t. Athletes with this mindset tend to avoid challenges, fear failure, and see effort as a sign of weakness.

On the other hand, a growth mindset is the belief that skills and intelligence can be developed through dedication, learning, and perseverance. Athletes with a growth mindset embrace challenges, learn from setbacks, and continuously strive to improve.

Many of the world’s greatest athletes embody the principles of a growth mindset. Take Michael Jordan, for example. Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Jordan was cut from his high school varsity team as a sophomore. Instead of giving up, he used the setback as motivation, dedicating himself to improving his skills. His relentless work ethic and belief in self-improvement helped him become a six-time NBA champion and global icon.

Similarly, Cristiano Ronaldo is known not just for his talent but for his unwavering commitment to self-improvement. Despite natural athleticism, he has continuously refined his technique, fitness, and mental strength over the years. He sees setbacks as opportunities to improve, making him one of football’s greatest players even well into his late 30s.

In contrast, a fixed mindset can limit potential. Young athletes who believe they are “naturally talented” may struggle to cope with failure. If they believe their abilities are set in stone, they may avoid challenges or hard work, fearing that failure would expose their limitations.

One of the biggest obstacles to developing a growth mindset in sport is the obsession with numbers — scores, rankings, statistics, and times. While numbers can be useful indicators of progress, an overemphasis on them can trap athletes in a fixed mindset.

When athletes judge their success solely by numbers, they risk losing sight of the bigger picture: long-term improvement. If a runner fixates only on their race time, they might ignore improvements in endurance, technique, or mental toughness. If a young footballer measures their worth purely by goals scored, they may neglect other aspects of their game, like movement, decision-making, or teamwork.

A growth mindset shifts the focus from results to progress. Instead of obsessing over numbers, athletes should ask:

• Am I improving my technique?
• Am I coping better under pressure?
• Am I working harder and smarter than before?

Why waste time proving over and over how great you are, when you could be getting better? – Carol Dweck

By measuring success through effort, learning, and resilience — not just numbers — athletes free themselves from the limitations of a fixed mindset. They start to see setbacks as part of the process rather than as failures.

Athletes, coaches, and teams can foster a growth mindset by:

1. Embracing Challenges – Instead of avoiding difficult situations, see them as opportunities to improve. Struggling with a new technique or a tough opponent is part of the process.
2. Viewing Failure as Feedback – Instead of seeing failure as proof of inadequacy, recognize it as valuable information that highlights areas for growth.
3. Prioritizing Effort Over Talent – Hard work and persistence matter more than natural ability. Effort is what transforms potential into excellence.
4. Focusing on Progress Over Numbers – Recognizing small improvements in skills, decision-making, or mental strength leads to sustainable long-term success.
5. Developing Resilience – Setbacks, injuries, and losses are part of any athlete’s journey. What matters is how you respond to them.

Athletes who develop a growth mindset unlock their true potential, push beyond their limits, and ultimately achieve greater success. Whether you’re a professional athlete, or a young one just starting, adopting a growth mindset will set you on a path of continuous improvement and lifelong achievement.

Becoming is better than being. – Carol Dweck