Tom Daley Quotes

People expect you to play your best, so I go through a routine to prepare myself so that I know I'm physically and mentally ready - prepared for the game.

During my first Olympics in 1980, at the age of 23, I was physically in great condition but mentally too inexperienced to cope comfortably in the pressure cooker of an Olympic year.

I try to have the same mindset in my practices as I would for my fights.

Everyone works so hard on their game and on their body. Most of the time, it comes down to who is more relaxed mentally; on the court while playing and off the court.

My concentration level blocks out everything. Concentration is why some athletes are better than others. You develop that concentration in training and concentrate in a meet.

The last thing, and the only one that you cannot physically train for, is the psychological preparation.

I've probably given myself enough time to prepare for this meet and we're all different athletes so I can't take their results as what's going to be inevitable for me.

I've realised over the years I play my best when I have time to prepare for each tournament as best as possible.

I concentrate on preparing to swim my race and let the other swimmers think about me, not me about them.

There's an adage that a lot of coaches have, that I completely disagree with, is if you make the Olympic team too early you become complacent.

I think if I get the training spot on, the equipment perfect and I'm in the right state of mind, I can get a result there from no competitive action.

You can wish as hard as you like but all that really matters is the shape you're in on the day of the race. I've always felt these really big races aren't necessarily won by whoever is the fastest. They're won by the athlete who is the smartest and in the best shape on the day.

When I'm in good form there are chances that rivals will worry more about you more than you about them.

I know my game really well and I'm relatively comfortable in most situations.

When you don't play those big matches for a few years, it's tough to play back-to-back after that.

I think Cormier is gonna come out and try to wrestle me, try to get me tired, and try to push the pace. I know he might not say that I'm on his level but I think I am and he thinking that I'm not, really.

It's tough to think before a tournament that you can win.

It's something I have to remind myself about, that at every competition, I put a lot of pressure on myself, almost like it's the end of the world, and I have to keep reminding myself it's not.

Sometimes you have a good game and mentally you are very tired.

I don't really believe in that ring rust stuff.

When it comes to football, I always prepare like I'm going to be the guy.

If I get annoyed because I'm not in the headlines and don't do well in training, I won't do well if I have to go in. I've to be prepared because the World Cup isn't easy.

The first few years I was competing, I'd ride so well in practice, then choke and fall in competition. Now I take a deep breath and say, 'Look at me. I'm outside. I'm doing what I love.' Still, nothing's matched the pressure I felt standing at the top of the halfpipe for the first time at the Olympics.

With a good start, players can relax a bit more and aren't so anxious throughout the season.

I need to continue to be wise, be efficient and prepared for every game that I play leading up to the Olympics.