Beyond the VO2 Max: The Role of Self-belief in Elite Athletic Performance

Abstract:: In the past Prof Tim Noakes was convinced that physiology could explain performance. After 38 years of studying the human body, he now believes that the mind and the role of self belief are crucial factors in human athletic feats. In January 2008, Noakes presented this lecture, entitled "Beyond the VO2 Max: The Role of Self Belief in Elite Athletic Performance" at Croke Park Stadium, Dublin.

Beyond the VO2 max: The role of self-belief in elite athletic performance

Abstract:: This lecture explores how success in sports ranging from extreme cold water swimming to World Cup rugby are linked by a common thread - the role of self-belief. In the past Prof. Tim Noakes was convinced that physiology could explain performance. After 38 years of studying the human body, he now believes that the mind, and the role of self-belief, are crucial factors in human athletic feats. In January 2008, Noakes presented this lecture entitled Beyond the VO2 max: The role of self-belief in elite athletic performance&rdquo; at Croke Park Stadium, Dublin.

Abstract:: This talk was delivered to UCT alumni in London at South Africa House in 2007. It describes how the University influenced my early career and led me to study two of the important intellectual challenges of my life - exercise associated hyponatraemia and the central governor model of exercise. It then discusses the role of science in assisting the rise of South African cricket under the coaching of Bob Woolmer and of South African ascent to winning the 2007 Rugby World Cup under Jake White. It ends with the story of UCT graduate Lewis Gordon Pugh's swims in the Antarctic and Arctic, including his epic 18 minutes 1km swim at the North Pole in June 2007, how science insured his success, and the role that his self belief and that of his scientific support team played in that success.

Abstract:: This video lecture can be used by self learners or as a supplement to sports science course material. This talk was delivered to UCT alumni in London at South Africa House on 10 October 2007 and recorded a few weeks later in Cape Town. It describes how the University influenced my early career and led me to study two of the important intellectual challenges of my life -- exercise-associated hyponatraemia and the central governor model of exercise. It then discusses the role of science in assisting the rise of South African cricket under the coaching of Bob Woolmer and of South African ascent to winning the 2007 Rugby World Cup under Jake White. It ends with the story of UCT graduate Lewis Gordon Pugh's swims in the Antarctic and Arctic including his epic 18 minutes (1km) swim at the North Pole in June 2007; how science insured his success and the role that his self belief, and that of his scientific support team, played in that success.

Abstract:: In the first lecture Prof Noakes speaks of the role of self belief in athletic performance Đ Ôwhat you really believe will happen is exactly what will happenŐ. He uses his experiences as a member of the medical team to the World Cup winning springboks in 2007 to comment on how the UCT rugby team can use their brains to win.In the second and third lecture he speaks about identifying team weaknesses and strengths and how the team has to aspire to stronger bodies but even stronger minds.In addition, he speaks of conquering the impossible through self-belief Đ here he uses the example of Lewis Pugh and Mike Horn. He also speaks about the power of a team and the power of team unity. He reminds us of what he mentioned in the first lecture Đ see the future as the past. Belief in yourself is key to success as a winning team.

Abstract:: The greatest hurdle is the mental barrier. This trilogy of lectures was originally presented to the University of Cape Town's Rugby Team in 2008. The lectures centre around Prof Noakes' teachings of self belief and team unity as role players in athletic performance. In the first lecture Prof Noakes speaks of the role of self belief in athletic performance -- 'what you really believe will happen is exactly what will happen'. He uses his experiences as a member of the medical team to the World Cup winning springboks in 2007 to comment on how the UCT rugby team can use their brains to win. In the second and third lecture he speaks about identifying team weaknesses and strengths and how the team has to aspire to stronger bodies but even stronger minds. In addition, he speaks of conquering the impossible through self-belief -- here he uses the example of Lewis Pugh and Mike Horn. He also speaks about the power of a team and the power of team unity. He reminds us of what he mentioned in the first lecture -- see the future as the past. Belief in yourself is key to success as a winning team.