A fascinating insight into the psychology behind elite-level sports.Mind Gamesdiscusses concepts used in sports psychology in a way that isunderstandable to the watching public, sports fans, and sports-hatersalike. Annie Vernon draws on her own experiences as an Olympic medalist,interviews with a wide range of people from other sports, and inputfrom experts to answer the question: What is it about our psyche thatmakes pushing the mind and body to their limits such a basic humandesire?Annie speaks to athletes from a broadspectrum of sports around the globe, including basketball's ShaneBattier and John Starks, NFL star Ryan Fitzpatrick, fencer TimMorehouse, and baseball's Craig Breslow and Tino Martinez, tennis's JudyMurray, polar explorer Ben Saunders, triathlete Chrissie Wellington,skeleton-bob star Lizzy Yarnold, runner Jo Pavey and sailor Ben Ainslie,along with coaches and sports psychologists from both Olympic sportsand their professional equivalents.Whether it beperforming under pressure, coping with nerves, teamwork, or buildingself-belief in the face of adversity, the methods that elitesports-people use are also relevant to everyday life. But sportspsychology is still regarded as something of a mystery. How exactly doelite sports performers harness the power of their mind in pursuit ofphysical perfection?After looking closely at areassuch as motivation, competitiveness, gender, and teamwork, Annie Vernonuncovers the underlying psychological principles behind the sports thateveryone enjoys.