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The Champion's Mind: How Great Athletes Think, Train, and Thrive
Even amongst the most elite performers, certain athletes stand out as a cut above the rest, able to outperform in clutch, game-deciding moments. These athletes prove that raw athletic ability doesn't necessarily translate to a superior on-field experience—it's the mental game that matters most.
Sports participation—from the recreational to the collegiate Division I level—is at an all-time high. While the caliber of their game may differ, athletes at every level have one thing in common: they want to excel. In The Champion's Mind, sports psychologist Jim Afremow, PhD, LPC, now offers the same advice he uses with Olympians, Heisman Trophy winners, and professional athletes, including:
- Tips and techniques based on high-performance psychology research, such as how to get in a "zone," thrive on a team, and stay humble
- How to progress within a sport and sustain excellence long-term
- Customizable pre-performance routines to hit full power when the gun goes off or the puck is dropped
The Champion's Mind distills actionable advice into clear and concise steps for athletes looking to find confidence, concentration, and mental preparedness—the mental edge that sets champions apart.
Sports participation—from the recreational to the collegiate Division I level—is at an all-time high. While the caliber of their game may differ, athletes at every level have one thing in common: they want to excel. In The Champion's Mind, sports psychologist Jim Afremow, PhD, LPC, now offers the same advice he uses with Olympians, Heisman Trophy winners, and professional athletes, including:
- Tips and techniques based on high-performance psychology research, such as how to get in a "zone," thrive on a team, and stay humble
- How to progress within a sport and sustain excellence long-term
- Customizable pre-performance routines to hit full power when the gun goes off or the puck is dropped
The Champion's Mind distills actionable advice into clear and concise steps for athletes looking to find confidence, concentration, and mental preparedness—the mental edge that sets champions apart.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published January 14, 2014
1487 people are currently reading
9454 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 302 reviews
April 5, 2019
I decided to take up running last year and more recently I've been going to the gym. I'm trying to get more fit and in better shape before I get older and it becomes harder. I also love running. It's probably my second favourite past time after reading. This is a book I kept seeing athletes and people into training and running recommend. I thought I'd check it out since it's combining 2 things that I enjoy.
It's a fantastic read about preparing and training yourself mentally so physically you can perform better. There's many anecdotes from professional and Olympic athletes who talk about their experience with their head game and sport.
Since I was mainly reading this as a runner, some of the analogies didn't really work for me, and the stuff about training in a team and listening to your coach is stuff I can't wholly apply to my running.
But there's plenty here about keeping focus mentally and dealing with injuries and also some stuff on meditation which I want to try.
While this reading this book is not going to directly lead to me running faster, the advice that's in here which I can use long term will (hopefully) improve my running, gym training and maybe even my life (not to get too deep at the end but if you read it, you'll get what I mean)
It's a fantastic read about preparing and training yourself mentally so physically you can perform better. There's many anecdotes from professional and Olympic athletes who talk about their experience with their head game and sport.
Since I was mainly reading this as a runner, some of the analogies didn't really work for me, and the stuff about training in a team and listening to your coach is stuff I can't wholly apply to my running.
But there's plenty here about keeping focus mentally and dealing with injuries and also some stuff on meditation which I want to try.
While this reading this book is not going to directly lead to me running faster, the advice that's in here which I can use long term will (hopefully) improve my running, gym training and maybe even my life (not to get too deep at the end but if you read it, you'll get what I mean)
January 23, 2014
I won this book through a Goodreads first reads giveaway.
The Champion's Mind is a great resource for anyone not just athletes for improving and developing mental skills in any domain of performance. Dr. Afremow provides several practical mental skills proven to be effective based off psychological research. He also provides famous studies to learn from as well as an assortment of Zen and Taoist stories that emphasize the effectiveness of mindfulness. Also, a chapter comprised of Olympian's anecdotes are included. There's a bunch of great quotes from various athletes, coaches, and thinkers at the start of each section. The book and the content are simple and clear to understand. As mentioned by the author, and for learning purposes, read a chapter a day to really give the content time to think about. I found this book very motivating and enjoyable. For anyone, knowledge about sport and performance psychology can provide mental skills for life.
"It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or demons, heaven or hell." -Buddha
The Champion's Mind is a great resource for anyone not just athletes for improving and developing mental skills in any domain of performance. Dr. Afremow provides several practical mental skills proven to be effective based off psychological research. He also provides famous studies to learn from as well as an assortment of Zen and Taoist stories that emphasize the effectiveness of mindfulness. Also, a chapter comprised of Olympian's anecdotes are included. There's a bunch of great quotes from various athletes, coaches, and thinkers at the start of each section. The book and the content are simple and clear to understand. As mentioned by the author, and for learning purposes, read a chapter a day to really give the content time to think about. I found this book very motivating and enjoyable. For anyone, knowledge about sport and performance psychology can provide mental skills for life.
"It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or demons, heaven or hell." -Buddha
November 20, 2015
One long, unreadable cliche after another.
As an athlete and a coach, there was nothing new or valuable about this book. I knew most of these stories and techniques already. The tone of the writing was almost condescending at points. What didn't feel condescending was just boring.
I gave up reading it and scanned large sections of it to see if there were any stories I could bookmark to potentially review to add to my bag of coaching tricks. Nope. Didn't find any.
As an athlete and a coach, there was nothing new or valuable about this book. I knew most of these stories and techniques already. The tone of the writing was almost condescending at points. What didn't feel condescending was just boring.
I gave up reading it and scanned large sections of it to see if there were any stories I could bookmark to potentially review to add to my bag of coaching tricks. Nope. Didn't find any.
July 20, 2017
Full Review: The Champions Mind: How Great Athletes Think, Train, and Thrive Review
While 'The Mindful Athlete' focused more on combining meditation with sports psychology, 'The Champions Mind' combines sports psychology, motivational stories from world-class athletes, and routines for becoming top-level in your game.
Top level athletes typically require a mentor who has excelled in their game previously. A mentor will cut your learning time, and inspire you to push a few steps further than before. Learning motivational quotes is a sure-fire way of inspiring yourself, and those around you. Placing motivational posters or cues around yourself will subconsciously inspire you, every single day. Even setting your desktop background, or phone background to a success quote will get you to the next level.
If you can see greatness in someone else, it's normally a reflection of the greatness within yourself as well.
By increasing your self-awareness and mental discipline, you can train yourself to enter the present. The present is the present, and does not look into the past or the future. By staying in the present, you maintain 'mental toughness' by remaining positive and proactive, even in the worst circumstances.
This can be accomplished through practiced breathing and meditation. Centering on your breathing, and disabling all distractions whenever possible.
Engaging in the proper body language - which includes expansive, open postures - can elevate testosterone, cortisol, feelings of power, and tolerance for risk as well. Even telling yourself power phrases like "I think, feel, and perform as a champion" or "I bring it every day", can give you a strong motivational push!
A day should never go by without accomplishing something in your life, whether it's health, wealth, relationships, or happiness.
"It is better to conquer yourself, than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell." - Buddha
I enjoyed this book. It's a really deep primer into both sports psychology and self-development that everyone should read. Regardless if you are in sports, business, or just engaged in every day life.
5/5 stars
Story of the Day
A young by earnest Zen student approached his teacher and asked the Zen master, "If I work hard and diligently, how long will it take for me to find the Zen?" The master thought about this, then replied, "Ten years." The student then said, "But what if I work very very hard and really apply myself to learn fast - how long then?" The master replied, "Well, twenty years." "But if I really, really work at it. How long then?" asked the student. "Thirty years," replied the master. "But I do not understand," said the disappointed student. "At each time that I say I will work harder, you say it will take me longer. Why do you say that?" The master answered, "When you have one eye on the goal, you have only one eye on the path."
While 'The Mindful Athlete' focused more on combining meditation with sports psychology, 'The Champions Mind' combines sports psychology, motivational stories from world-class athletes, and routines for becoming top-level in your game.
Top level athletes typically require a mentor who has excelled in their game previously. A mentor will cut your learning time, and inspire you to push a few steps further than before. Learning motivational quotes is a sure-fire way of inspiring yourself, and those around you. Placing motivational posters or cues around yourself will subconsciously inspire you, every single day. Even setting your desktop background, or phone background to a success quote will get you to the next level.
If you can see greatness in someone else, it's normally a reflection of the greatness within yourself as well.
By increasing your self-awareness and mental discipline, you can train yourself to enter the present. The present is the present, and does not look into the past or the future. By staying in the present, you maintain 'mental toughness' by remaining positive and proactive, even in the worst circumstances.
This can be accomplished through practiced breathing and meditation. Centering on your breathing, and disabling all distractions whenever possible.
Engaging in the proper body language - which includes expansive, open postures - can elevate testosterone, cortisol, feelings of power, and tolerance for risk as well. Even telling yourself power phrases like "I think, feel, and perform as a champion" or "I bring it every day", can give you a strong motivational push!
A day should never go by without accomplishing something in your life, whether it's health, wealth, relationships, or happiness.
"It is better to conquer yourself, than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell." - Buddha
I enjoyed this book. It's a really deep primer into both sports psychology and self-development that everyone should read. Regardless if you are in sports, business, or just engaged in every day life.
5/5 stars
Story of the Day
A young by earnest Zen student approached his teacher and asked the Zen master, "If I work hard and diligently, how long will it take for me to find the Zen?" The master thought about this, then replied, "Ten years." The student then said, "But what if I work very very hard and really apply myself to learn fast - how long then?" The master replied, "Well, twenty years." "But if I really, really work at it. How long then?" asked the student. "Thirty years," replied the master. "But I do not understand," said the disappointed student. "At each time that I say I will work harder, you say it will take me longer. Why do you say that?" The master answered, "When you have one eye on the goal, you have only one eye on the path."
March 3, 2014
I started reading The Champion's Mind and I couldn't put it down. I have always focused on the physical side of my game but have become fully aware now how important the mental side is too. I would recommend Dr. Afremow's book for anyone serious about understanding the psychology of excellence and HOW to actually go about mastering the mental skills and strategies. I wore out my highlighter marking favorite quotes and passages >>> "Think Gold and never settle for Silver". Definitely worth your time and investment.
July 11, 2014
So helpful for the mental game. I read this as recommended, only one chapter a day, so that I could really reflect on and apply the lessons. Some of it I already knew, and some of it is logical, but it's always good to be reminded of how to think to be your best.
March 16, 2015
i think th0l l0 ppl l aww lh96
June 20, 2025
I've been consuming quite a bit of sports psychology writing over the past few months in preparation for my trip to Nationals at the end of this month. Lots of time and resources go into preparing for such an event and it seems silly to neglect perhaps the most important aspect of the sport: the mental game.
I used to struggle with confidence and consistency resulting in "hot-and-cold" performances: I either burned it down, or set myself on fire... Now, having taken the 6-hour "Mental Management" course by Lanny Bassham, and having read a small collection of books of this ilk, I can wholeheartedly add my recommendation for Afremow's work.
As expected, there's lots of overlap between this book and With Winning in Mind, Attainment: The 12 Elements of Elite Performers, How Champions Think: In Sports and in Life, The Confident Mind: A Battle-Tested Guide to Unshakable Performance, and others.
It doesn't do anything better than any of the above, just different, and sometimes in ways that reinforce important material and resurfaces it in memorable ways. Lots of stories of world class athletes applying these principles make it an enjoyable read.
Recommended.
I used to struggle with confidence and consistency resulting in "hot-and-cold" performances: I either burned it down, or set myself on fire... Now, having taken the 6-hour "Mental Management" course by Lanny Bassham, and having read a small collection of books of this ilk, I can wholeheartedly add my recommendation for Afremow's work.
As expected, there's lots of overlap between this book and With Winning in Mind, Attainment: The 12 Elements of Elite Performers, How Champions Think: In Sports and in Life, The Confident Mind: A Battle-Tested Guide to Unshakable Performance, and others.
It doesn't do anything better than any of the above, just different, and sometimes in ways that reinforce important material and resurfaces it in memorable ways. Lots of stories of world class athletes applying these principles make it an enjoyable read.
Recommended.
January 22, 2021
psáno stylem motivační knížky, která postrádá jakoukoliv hloubku
většina konceptů je jasná každému, Afremow se ohání statistikami ze sportu, které ale nevysvětlují téměř žádný psychický jev
overall nedoporučuju, zatím se mi osvědčilo, že je lepší číst biografie sportovců než "inspirativní" knihy jejich koučů
zajímavá technika pro zvládání sport-related stresu:
,,I always read Bible and prayed to put sport performance in perspective. This is how I not only relieved sports-performance pressure but also how I fully wanted to remember that my race was not the center of the universe. Between every pistol shot at the Beijing Olympics, when there was approximately 30 secs before the command to load for the next shot, I prayed Ephesians 6:10-18."
většina konceptů je jasná každému, Afremow se ohání statistikami ze sportu, které ale nevysvětlují téměř žádný psychický jev
overall nedoporučuju, zatím se mi osvědčilo, že je lepší číst biografie sportovců než "inspirativní" knihy jejich koučů
zajímavá technika pro zvládání sport-related stresu:
,,I always read Bible and prayed to put sport performance in perspective. This is how I not only relieved sports-performance pressure but also how I fully wanted to remember that my race was not the center of the universe. Between every pistol shot at the Beijing Olympics, when there was approximately 30 secs before the command to load for the next shot, I prayed Ephesians 6:10-18."
December 5, 2014
Not only about the Mental Game or Sports Psychology, but one of the best books I've read in personal development. From the start it dives right into applicable skills, scenarios, affirmations, and awesome quotes. This book is not only a book on Championship thinking for Athletes but also for business professionals, leaders, and daily life.
Dr Afremow looks at every challenge as an opportunity for growth no matter the circumstance and staying present to achieve success on and off the field. I began applying some of the skills immediately as I was going through the book. Something simple as listening to a certain type music to get into the rhythm and flow of an activity can determine how well we focus especially during a difficult period of a day i.e. mid afternoon for me. And that rhythm and flow can be applied to our sports practice or performance. Even the pre-game prep is something many of us overlook in the importance of creating an environment that'll boost our performance rather than create resistance and stress.
One of my favorite quotes from the book is "The goal for any Athlete is to be Master of the injury rather than letting the injury master the Athlete. Bring your champion's mindset to the training room and make rehab your new sport until you get your game back, and you will get that game back." Reminds me of what I did during my recovery after spine surgery. If it wasn't for my mental game and making rehab my sport and part of my daily fitness activity, I wouldn't have recovered as quickly and as well as I did while discovering a new passion. If you think about it, your Physical Therapist during rehab becomes your Strength Coach. Their goal is to get you back in the condition you were at pre-injury through exercise. Highly recommended listening and/or reading.
I end this review on another quote that really stood out to me, "Focus on your performance not on unwanted outcomes. To perform at a champion's level, you must understand the importance of a long term memory for success and a short term memory, selective amnesia, for failure. Every Athlete fails but Champions do not dwell on their failures. Instead, they focus on the positive experiences and keep confidently moving forward." - Dr. Jim Afremow
Dr Afremow looks at every challenge as an opportunity for growth no matter the circumstance and staying present to achieve success on and off the field. I began applying some of the skills immediately as I was going through the book. Something simple as listening to a certain type music to get into the rhythm and flow of an activity can determine how well we focus especially during a difficult period of a day i.e. mid afternoon for me. And that rhythm and flow can be applied to our sports practice or performance. Even the pre-game prep is something many of us overlook in the importance of creating an environment that'll boost our performance rather than create resistance and stress.
One of my favorite quotes from the book is "The goal for any Athlete is to be Master of the injury rather than letting the injury master the Athlete. Bring your champion's mindset to the training room and make rehab your new sport until you get your game back, and you will get that game back." Reminds me of what I did during my recovery after spine surgery. If it wasn't for my mental game and making rehab my sport and part of my daily fitness activity, I wouldn't have recovered as quickly and as well as I did while discovering a new passion. If you think about it, your Physical Therapist during rehab becomes your Strength Coach. Their goal is to get you back in the condition you were at pre-injury through exercise. Highly recommended listening and/or reading.
I end this review on another quote that really stood out to me, "Focus on your performance not on unwanted outcomes. To perform at a champion's level, you must understand the importance of a long term memory for success and a short term memory, selective amnesia, for failure. Every Athlete fails but Champions do not dwell on their failures. Instead, they focus on the positive experiences and keep confidently moving forward." - Dr. Jim Afremow
November 4, 2021
Very good book. This is a sports psychology book but the author certainly didn't neglect educational psychology when writing it.
The front end of the book, the bulk contains studies from sports psychology, accompanied by quotes of successful athletes. Admittedly, those quotes were mildly disruptive to the narrative because he had to introduce the athlete and list off his/her accomplishments each time.
He relied a lot on Eastern wisdom as well. The first section is followed by a section with Zen koans, followed by short narratives from successful athletes. The book caters to three different ways we learn.
You should read this every day for your ra-ra-ra!
I think you should constantly be reading a ra-ra-ra book.
Addendum: Having watched a lot of football, it's clear where some coaches get their philosophies from. For example, Kalani tells his players to loosen up and trust their preparation. That instruction is covered repeatedly in this book.
Before the game against ranked and formidable TCU in 2006, Bronco told his players that they don't need to play their best game, they just need to execute. That philosophy also flows from this book; sometimes when players come up against a very tough opponent, they feel like they need to do something drastic, which can lead to disastrous circumstances.
The front end of the book, the bulk contains studies from sports psychology, accompanied by quotes of successful athletes. Admittedly, those quotes were mildly disruptive to the narrative because he had to introduce the athlete and list off his/her accomplishments each time.
He relied a lot on Eastern wisdom as well. The first section is followed by a section with Zen koans, followed by short narratives from successful athletes. The book caters to three different ways we learn.
You should read this every day for your ra-ra-ra!
I think you should constantly be reading a ra-ra-ra book.
Addendum: Having watched a lot of football, it's clear where some coaches get their philosophies from. For example, Kalani tells his players to loosen up and trust their preparation. That instruction is covered repeatedly in this book.
Before the game against ranked and formidable TCU in 2006, Bronco told his players that they don't need to play their best game, they just need to execute. That philosophy also flows from this book; sometimes when players come up against a very tough opponent, they feel like they need to do something drastic, which can lead to disastrous circumstances.
January 18, 2019
The bad: sometimes it feels like a watered down mix of motivional techniques obtained from Tony Robbins and the like mixed with athlete testimonials to legitimize it.
The good: the reverse side of the previous point. It's a summary of existing visualization, motivation and other techniques, but it's a nice not-before-seen mix of them that meshes together pretty well.
I read this book in one go the day before my first marathon. I love it. It's a very skilfully and well put-together set of chapters on the various aspects of high-performance athletics, ranging from nutrition to training, mindset, Zen, life goals, and much more. It contains testimonies of Gold-winning athletes and other references.
The good: the reverse side of the previous point. It's a summary of existing visualization, motivation and other techniques, but it's a nice not-before-seen mix of them that meshes together pretty well.
I read this book in one go the day before my first marathon. I love it. It's a very skilfully and well put-together set of chapters on the various aspects of high-performance athletics, ranging from nutrition to training, mindset, Zen, life goals, and much more. It contains testimonies of Gold-winning athletes and other references.
September 6, 2016
Easy read effectively divided into bite size chunks so you can read a bit each day and practice your mental discipline. Had great insights into developing your champion mindset even if you want to be a champion at something other than athletics. I'm not an athlete, but I still thought the concepts were helpful for pursing to the fullest extent the things I am passionate about.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. (Thank you!)
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. (Thank you!)
June 24, 2014
Read. Repeat. Read. Repeat. I'm an athlete and this is one of the best sports and performance books I've read.
November 20, 2022
3.5/5
More rah rah than science. The same message on repeat for 250+ pages - with a few lists. This book would be a good pep talk when times are tough in your chosen sport.
More rah rah than science. The same message on repeat for 250+ pages - with a few lists. This book would be a good pep talk when times are tough in your chosen sport.
January 25, 2026
I genuinely enjoyed this book so much. I’m not a huge fan of this type of book normally, but holy crap is this one motivating! As an athlete who is constantly striving to be better each and every day, this book gave some very helpful strategies. It’s actually the first book I’ve marked up while I read, so I will definitely be going back and looking at certain portions. Highly recommend!
February 27, 2020
4.5 - Great book about positive sports psychology, but a lot of this could be applied to life in general too.
November 2, 2022
Kinda wasn't what I was looking for, but the main takeaway is that to be successful in athletics, great discipline and mental determination is needed. But honestly, that's basically advice for all areas of life anyways.
I thought the quotes and stories of star athletes were good, but way too brief. I'd have appreciated fewer anecdotes if they had more depth. I didn't love all the parables and fables that were woven into the book. Like they have cliché but decent takeaways, but they seem so arbitrary given that they... aren't real.
I thought the quotes and stories of star athletes were good, but way too brief. I'd have appreciated fewer anecdotes if they had more depth. I didn't love all the parables and fables that were woven into the book. Like they have cliché but decent takeaways, but they seem so arbitrary given that they... aren't real.
October 30, 2023
A collection of bite-size Big Ideas on how we can develop our Champion’s Mind, covering everything from goal setting, visualization and self-talk to breath control, confidence and mental toughness.
“Champion yourself. We all experience similar struggles and deal with demanding challenges in our pursuit of excellence, regardless of the sport or fitness activity. To be a champion, your true best self becomes key to personal and athletic greatness. You know, as we all do, that only those performers who think gold and never settle for silver will continue to strive for and reach their highest, or gold, level. A champion makes greatness happen, despite what may seem impossible odds.
Of course most of us are not Olympians or professional athletes. But all of us can acquire a champion’s mind-set. Any athlete can learn to think like a champion. Every one of us can be peak performers in the game of life by achieving our own personal best. We can strive to be the best version of ourselves. It is possible for us to stay ‘professional’ whenever adversity strikes. It is possible to ingrain mental fortitude that drives us forward. And it is possible to take a championship approach.”
~ Jim Afremow from The Champion’s Mind
Jim Afremow is one of the world’s leading sports psychologists who works with some of the top performers in all major sports.
This is a great book—a collection of bite-size Big Ideas on how we can develop our Champion’s Mind covering everything from goal setting, visualization and self-talk to breath control, confidence and mental toughness.
My copy of the book is *all* marked up. Get a copy here.
I love sports books because sports are such a great metaphor for life.
As Afremow puts it, we can all be “Peak performers in the game of life.”
We can all be Champions.
Here’s a fun little fact: Did you know the word champion comes from the medieval Latin campio(n-) which means “fighter”?
Yep—which immediately makes me think of winning the ultimate combat Socrates talks about in The Gorgias: “I desire only to know the truth, and to live as well as I can… And, to the utmost of my power, I exhort all other men to do the same… I exhort you also to take part in the great combat, which is the combat of life, and greater than every other earthly conflict.”
Some of my favorite big ideas from this book include:
1. The Vision - Of a Champion.
2. Mental Toughness - Let’s define it.
3. Ugly but Effective - God bad days.
4. Sand in Your Hand - Squeeze it just right.
5. Good, Better, Best - How to evaluate performance.
6. Sustained Obsession - Smokeybot cracks the nut.
7. Honor’s Pledge - Let’s make it.
I’ve summarized those Big Ideas in a video review that you can watch here: https://youtu.be/BmQzylDOrXk?feature=...
I’ve also added The Champion's Mind by Jim Afremow to my collection of Philosopher’s Notes--distilling the Big Ideas into 6-page PDF and 20-minute MP3s on 600+ of the BEST self-development books ever. You can get access to all of those plus a TON more over at https://heroic.us.
“Champion yourself. We all experience similar struggles and deal with demanding challenges in our pursuit of excellence, regardless of the sport or fitness activity. To be a champion, your true best self becomes key to personal and athletic greatness. You know, as we all do, that only those performers who think gold and never settle for silver will continue to strive for and reach their highest, or gold, level. A champion makes greatness happen, despite what may seem impossible odds.
Of course most of us are not Olympians or professional athletes. But all of us can acquire a champion’s mind-set. Any athlete can learn to think like a champion. Every one of us can be peak performers in the game of life by achieving our own personal best. We can strive to be the best version of ourselves. It is possible for us to stay ‘professional’ whenever adversity strikes. It is possible to ingrain mental fortitude that drives us forward. And it is possible to take a championship approach.”
~ Jim Afremow from The Champion’s Mind
Jim Afremow is one of the world’s leading sports psychologists who works with some of the top performers in all major sports.
This is a great book—a collection of bite-size Big Ideas on how we can develop our Champion’s Mind covering everything from goal setting, visualization and self-talk to breath control, confidence and mental toughness.
My copy of the book is *all* marked up. Get a copy here.
I love sports books because sports are such a great metaphor for life.
As Afremow puts it, we can all be “Peak performers in the game of life.”
We can all be Champions.
Here’s a fun little fact: Did you know the word champion comes from the medieval Latin campio(n-) which means “fighter”?
Yep—which immediately makes me think of winning the ultimate combat Socrates talks about in The Gorgias: “I desire only to know the truth, and to live as well as I can… And, to the utmost of my power, I exhort all other men to do the same… I exhort you also to take part in the great combat, which is the combat of life, and greater than every other earthly conflict.”
Some of my favorite big ideas from this book include:
1. The Vision - Of a Champion.
2. Mental Toughness - Let’s define it.
3. Ugly but Effective - God bad days.
4. Sand in Your Hand - Squeeze it just right.
5. Good, Better, Best - How to evaluate performance.
6. Sustained Obsession - Smokeybot cracks the nut.
7. Honor’s Pledge - Let’s make it.
I’ve summarized those Big Ideas in a video review that you can watch here: https://youtu.be/BmQzylDOrXk?feature=...
I’ve also added The Champion's Mind by Jim Afremow to my collection of Philosopher’s Notes--distilling the Big Ideas into 6-page PDF and 20-minute MP3s on 600+ of the BEST self-development books ever. You can get access to all of those plus a TON more over at https://heroic.us.
October 15, 2022
Usually these types of books are not my cup of tea and, to be honest, have never made it to my cart when buying books for reading on my own time. This book was recommended to me through my marathon training course. I have been challenges a lot with the mentality of overcoming longer distance runs, and surprisingly this book was quite helpful. It focuses mostly on major olympians and world-renowned athletes and how each in their own way battle conflict of body over mind. Because it presents a variety of perspectives I was able to pick and choose what works best for me, which I liked as I’m sure many other prospective athletes or first time marathoners have been recommended this read. Only 4 stars because it’s outdated and it needs to update some name changes and stats, but if you’re interested in getting motivated for any type of sport or competition this is a great read.
January 8, 2019
If I were to subtitle this book it would be "Quotable Quotes and Think This". The first four chapters are chalked full of great information to implement and relay to a team and leaders fairly quickly. If you were pressed for time and needed information I would definitely get through the first four chapters and finish the rest at a later date. Each chapter was about 45 min listen through audible. I ended up pausing it to take notes and wish I would have bought the hard copy. I appreciated his knowledge of the psychology of sports and most of the stories were great resources for a coaches and other athletes to pass on to inspire their team and benefit from. He speaks in detail about controlling nerves which I found very helpful. "Get your butterflies to fly in formation" , he explains how to gear up intensity and how to shake off nerves when you have too many butterflies. I liked how he focused on having a champions mind when being a part of a team. He suggests " Helping your teams cause" , answering questions like "What am I doing that is hurting my team? and what am I not doing that is hurting my team?" Half way through the book he has a chapter about nutrition but does not go into great detail , having a fitness background myself, I did not find this information useful , but for possible young athletes who are unaware of how important nutrition is it could be beneficial as an introduction. The second half of the book I did not enjoy as much as the first half. I found the listings of athletes and what medals they received in each race a little monotonous. Overall I enjoyed this book and look forward to implementing many ideals. I would recommend to coaches and athletes preseason. About 8 hours on audible or 255 pages.
February 23, 2019
This book is a good exposition of practical, applicable sports psychology. Afremow is an experienced practitioner who has worked with a number of professional athletes. Though he makes his points in part through anecdotes featuring Olympic athletes, the ideas involved are in no way sport-specific; a sprinter, a basketball player, and a golfer could all benefit from the book.
For those that have read other sports psychology books (such Harvey Dorfman’s seminal _The Mental Game of Baseball_), there is, unfortunately, little new. But, for those that are new to the topic, Afremow’s book is as good an introduction as any to topics like having a present-moment focus, dealing with pain, and being willing to do what others will not.
There are two particularly compelling chapters, well worth reading even for those who already feel like they have a good understanding of the topic. The first is an application of Zen folk stories to sports; the presentation makes the messages memorable, and the fact that stories that originate so long ago and so far away are so obviously relevant underscores the universality of the challenges that athletes face. The second chapter of note is a collection of interviews with Olympians, wherein each Olympian shares their insights. Like the Zen stories, the Olympic stories are memorable and insightful.
For those that have read other sports psychology books (such Harvey Dorfman’s seminal _The Mental Game of Baseball_), there is, unfortunately, little new. But, for those that are new to the topic, Afremow’s book is as good an introduction as any to topics like having a present-moment focus, dealing with pain, and being willing to do what others will not.
There are two particularly compelling chapters, well worth reading even for those who already feel like they have a good understanding of the topic. The first is an application of Zen folk stories to sports; the presentation makes the messages memorable, and the fact that stories that originate so long ago and so far away are so obviously relevant underscores the universality of the challenges that athletes face. The second chapter of note is a collection of interviews with Olympians, wherein each Olympian shares their insights. Like the Zen stories, the Olympic stories are memorable and insightful.
April 16, 2015
The Champions Mind (How Great Athletes Think, Train, and Thrive) by Jim Afremow, is an inspirational, all around great book. I have always focused on the physical side of my game, and this book has taught me just how important the mental side is as well. I recently tore my ACL, and was given this book by a family friend. It has motivated me to get back to doing what I love (sports). While I'm pushing through therapy quotes from this book are constantly running through my mind. Reminding me to keep moving, and that it IS mind over matter. One of my favorite quotes was "The attitude with which we approach the situation can determine our success or failure" (Peyton Manning). I felt that it spoke to me personally, considering my injury. This book not only teaches great strategies and lessons for athletes, but for everyday life as well.
November 5, 2018
So much good content, but delivery pretty rough. Book could have been half as long and delivered a better effect. Great layout of the mental side of performance. Lots of ammunition for my sports/team analogies. Really has me re-thinking about what greatness is composed of. The best sacrifice in the short term for what matters more in the long game. Willpower isn't enough and it's not exactly grit. It's something different.
June 30, 2015
Great book on developing champion's Mind and traits to get what do you want from your life. You don't have to be an athlete to learn a lot from this book. Everyone looking for developing their mental game will find many useful tips and advice along with interesting stories straight from Olympionic athletes. Are you ready to be a champion?
January 9, 2016
I loved this book. Written by a sports psychologist, it is full of advice and proven techniques for peak performance. There is a good balance of tips and references to Olympic and pro athletes who use the same mental techniques. I especially enjoyed the chapters on Zen and the importance of relaxation in a training plan. I know this is a book I will continually reference and reread.
June 29, 2021
Reminded me of Mind Gym: An Athlete's Guide to Inner Excellence by Gary Mack. I've always liked how books on sports, health, and fitness make me feel, and this was no exception. Besides being motivational, bonus points for also talking about what sportsmanship means. Worth listening to at the gym and on the way to the gym repeatedly.
September 20, 2022
Afremow does a great job talking about his past experiences with professional athletes on a relatable level for all athletes. I found myself being able to relate my struggles with that of some of the worlds greatest athletes. He also breaks each chapter into different segments and points that allows you to learn a new skill every chapter but also reflect on why that point matters.
November 18, 2025
I have read several books about mental strength this year but this has been the most helpful so far. Of course, there are many thing Dr. Afremow mentions that should be common sense. However, sometimes it just helps to be told those things. Moreover, what I really appreciate is the tips and approaches he mentions how to incorporate all the aspects into one's life.
October 28, 2015
Great Information
This book should be required reading for any athlete wanting to compete at their personal best. I imagine I will read my highlights thousands of times to refocus the mind of a champion.
This book should be required reading for any athlete wanting to compete at their personal best. I imagine I will read my highlights thousands of times to refocus the mind of a champion.
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