Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

Back at the 2001 FINA World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, the American female swimmers were looking for a nearby location to get their nails done.

“It is important that you find a nail salon to enable them to get a manicure and pedicure,” explained one of the team coaches. “They will feel better.”

This request was a clear indication that mental and physical preparation for a major competition can involve different things for different swimmers – any and all of which are important to their ultimate success.

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