Teams & leadership · Focus & performance
What elite athletes can teach us about focus
LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, Bianca Andreescu and Iga Świątek on mental preparation – and why it interests me beyond sport.
By Tamara Hibler ·
A mistake has happened, but you are still replaying it in your mind. Meanwhile, the next task is already waiting. Sport makes this moment especially clear: the next ball arrives while your mind is still on the last one.
Bringing your attention back to what is in front of you is something you can practise. That is why I looked at how well-known athletes approach pressure, meditation and mental preparation. Their experiences are interesting beyond the playing field, too.
LeBron James makes room for mental preparation
LeBron James developed the Train Your Mind series with Calm. It explores mental fitness, emotions under pressure and sleep. Calm introduces the series here.
What appeals to me is that mental preparation has its own place alongside physical training. How we handle pressure and look after ourselves deserves time. That applies to working life, too, when a great deal is expected of us.
Ronaldo does not meditate every day
In the WHOOP podcast, Cristiano Ronaldo explains that he uses breathing exercises and meditation particularly in stressful situations, such as match days. He also says he does not meditate daily. You can find the conversation here.
That can take some pressure out of the idea that a meditation practice must always look the same. You can discover how a practice fits your own everyday life. Practising regularly gives you a chance to become familiar with the exercises.
Bianca Andreescu starts with herself
In a WTA interview, Bianca Andreescu says her mother introduced her to meditation early on. She describes spending around 15 minutes in the morning before reaching for her phone, and working with visualisation. You can read the interview here.
I like the idea of noticing yourself before giving your attention to messages and appointments. Perhaps one morning could begin with a few minutes for you. You decide how long that moment should be.
Iga Świątek practises focus
In a 2026 interview, Iga Świątek describes developing concentration and decision-making with her mental performance coach. During a match, her attention turns to the next ball. She talks about her mental training here.
This is a broader form of training and cannot simply be equated with meditation. Her perspective reminds me that we can consciously explore and practise concentration. None of the four athletes is affiliated with my services.
What meditation may offer athletes
A 2024 meta-analysis reported positive findings for performance, flow and competition anxiety, although the number of studies was limited. A further review in Sports Medicine also found that positive results did not remain stable under stricter analyses.
Mindfulness can complement training; it does not guarantee sporting success. The experiences of well-known athletes are not a substitute for scientific evidence.
Something to try at your next training session
Take two quiet minutes before training. Feel your feet on the floor and let your breathing flow naturally. Choose a simple point to return your attention to, such as the contact with the ground.
When your mind wanders, notice and return. It is this returning that you are practising. Afterwards, ask what you want to pay attention to today: perhaps a precise movement, or the next attempt after a mistake.
How I work with focus and sound
In my sessions, I guide attention and body awareness. When crystal singing bowls are included, their sound can be a point your listening returns to. Research on mindfulness does not establish improved performance from singing bowls.
For me, sound is part of a consciously created pause. My free five-minute meditation offers a first impression. Sports teams can find more about my services under Frequenz & Focus for teams.
Putting this in context
This article makes no promises of healing or improved performance. Meditation and sound can complement your personal focus and relaxation practice. They do not replace sports medicine, sports psychology or therapeutic care.
Image credits
LeBron James: Erik Drost · CC BY 2.0. Used in the supplied version; cropped in the Journal overview.
Cristiano Ronaldo: Анна Нэсси / soccer.ru · CC BY-SA 3.0. Used in the supplied version; cropped in the Journal overview.
Bianca Andreescu: JazzyJoeyD · CC BY-SA 4.0. Used in the supplied version; cropped in the Journal overview.
Iga Świątek: Hameltion · CC BY-SA 4.0. Used in the supplied version; cropped in the Journal overview.
Take five minutes for yourself.
If you would like a brief moment to settle, I can guide you with my voice through a free five-minute meditation.
Free five-minute meditation (German audio)