Caitlyn Schmidt 🌸

Another gem from @NBCOlympics capturing @sunisalee_ w/ positive self talk before her performance. This is what I tried to lip read: "Okay" "You got this" "Last one" "Last one for me" "This one is forever" She slightly smiles, as if a nod to herself that this is an irreplaceable moment in her life, to embrace it. All of it. Such an important clip. I can relate to this on so many levels as I've had similar mannerisms & self talk. I absolutely love that this was captured. The cameras, crowd, coaches, fans, teammates, judges, music, the cool air she blows on her hands perhaps to cool off anxiety that is forming... Only recently have we seen such a rise in the importance of mental health...mental performance. How we communicate with OURSELF. IT MATTERS. This is just my personal take here: She is preparing and reminding herself that "she has this", she's done this thousands of times before, that although this may be one of the most important moments in her career - the mechanics are all the same. Same routine as in practice, same structures, physics are identical. That this is it - if indeed the last one forever, that she CAN do this, that she HAS done this before, that she CAN give one more performance. Removing the distractions away, this is a reaffirmation of confidence, of routine, and at the every end? A bit of joy as this may be the LAST time she does this....ever. I have to say - that these (along with what we saw from @Simone_Biles ) moments of preparation right before they compete are my absolute favorites. This is a critical time, if the mind allows too much fear or doubt, or distraction in - that is thousands of a second or tenths in hesitation, misplacement, angle, inches....etc The mind is THE game changer across all elements of performance. This is just so so so good. Congratulations @sunisalee_ YOU are a superstar. I hope that I'm wrong about "last one forever" because it's been incredible watching you ladies compete. @TeamUSA INCREDIBLE!!! @Paris2024 @Olympics THIS IS FOREVER!!!!