Why Elite Athletes Must Stop Training to Empty | Sara Hector & Ebba Andersson

What does it take to perform when the margins are measured in hundredths of a second, the pressure is immense and one mistake can end everything?

Recorded live at the J.P. Morgan sponsored Aurora event in Båstad, Sweden, Georgie Ainslie sits down with two of Sweden’s most successful skiers: Olympic alpine champion Sara Hector and cross-country star Ebba Andersson.

Sara reflects on the six-year wait between podium finishes, the serious knee injury that threatened her career and the mindset shift that helped her win Olympic giant slalom gold. She also explains why fear of failure cannot simply be suppressed, what it feels like to race at the limit and why elite athletes must learn not to empty the glass in every training session.

Ebba shares the conversation with her father that pulled her out of one of the lowest periods of her career, why she changed her approach after the Beijing Olympics and how better recovery, nutrition and trust in her own instincts helped her reach new heights.

Together, they discuss performance anxiety, comparison, recovery, resilience, discipline and the importance of staying present when everything is at stake.

This episode was recorded live at Aurora in Båstad, Sweden.

Performance People is powered by J.P. Morgan Private Bank.

FAQs

Who are Sara Hector and Ebba Andersson?Sara Hector is a Swedish alpine skier and Olympic giant slalom champion. Ebba Andersson is a Swedish cross-country skier with multiple World Championship titles and Olympic medals.

Where was this episode recorded?The conversation was recorded live at the Aurora car event in Båstad, Sweden, which was sponsored by J.P. Morgan Private Bank.

What sports do Sara Hector and Ebba Andersson compete in?Sara competes in alpine skiing, specialising in giant slalom. Ebba competes in cross-country skiing and is known for endurance events.

What does Sara Hector say about performance anxiety?Sara explains that she cannot simply suppress anxiety or fear of failure. Instead, she has learned to allow those feelings to arise, accept them and return her attention to the next action.