Do You Need The Killer Instinct?
How important is the 'killer instinct' in swimming?
Do you need to be 'highly competitive' in your attitude to
make it big in swimming? Is it bad to feel sorry for other competitors at times?
These are common questions I hear from swimmers and also parents of
swimmers, and the fact is, the answers are different for each swimmer - it all
depends upon the swimmer's individual personality.
First of all, the killer instinct is basically the unquenchable will to win
at all costs - a natural competitiveness which comes out in every meet and
even in training.
Every swimmer has this instinct to some degree, but
some more than others. This is NOT, of course, to say that the swimmer must hate their
competitors - I remember one coach trying to encourage this attitude in a gentle
swimmer who was simply 'incapable' of hating anyone - but the killer instinct
DOES prevent a swimmer from slowing down for their competitors, even if they DO
feel sorry for them (and believe it or not, this is quite common).
Feeling compassion for other swimmers is not a bad thing - in fact it shows
the markings of a highly decent person, however this attitude should NOT change
the way you swim in the pool. Feeling compassion is one thing, but
slowing down is definitely another!
However (believe it or not) there are many swimmers out there who purely and
simply swim because they LOVE it - not because they have to win all the time.
This is a wonderful attitude which creates swimmers who will probably swim all
their lives, however sometimes these swimmers can find their results suffer
occasionally because they discover they do not possess that grim
determination to 'finish a race off' when they should.
This
attitude may seem unbelievable to highly-competitive swimmers, who probably
never experience this problem! (Let me also mention that it is, of course, also
possible to be at the other end of the scale - that is, being a little too
"over-competitive", and this attitude can sometimes produce great
amounts of stress, and sometimes even 'undesirable tactics' such as intimidating
competitors before races, etc.
But let's get back to the subject of the killer instinct. How does a swimmer
increase their motivation or 'competitiveness' in order to achieve greater
results? Well, there are a few things you can do - the first is to write down
some goals you would like to achieve, which will create a direction you can
aim for. This is your starting point.
Secondly you can mentally 'model' your attitude on that of a highly
successful swimmer you admire, copying their attitudes and behaviour until
they become your own. This is very powerful and most successful people have
modeled themselves on others at some point in time. And thirdly, you can
visualize or imagine your goals being achieved, by regularly allowing
'successful' images and thoughts of your swimming to wash through your powerful
subconscious mind. This will create a 'blueprint' for success and increase your
motivation to achieve your goals.
So don't worry, nice people DON'T have to come last! You can still
achieve your desires, and be a nice person too - and their are many champions
out there who prove this.
So if you weren't born with a true 'killer instinct', don't worry, there are
still ways for you to come out on top.
The
Mind controls the body, and the mind is unlimited.
The best of success, Craig Townsend