Marco Koch likes variation and trying different things, both in training and in life. So when he heard hypnosis therapist Simone L\u00fccke giving a talk at his club, he decided to give it a shot. Starting at the end of 2013, he\u2019s had hypnosis sessions with her about once a month ever since, and if his recent results are anything to go by, it\u2019s been a masterstroke \u2013 in 2015 he enjoyed his best year ever, winning his first 200 breast world title in Kazan and doing the 100-200 double at the SC Euros in Israel.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you\u2019re competing against the best in the world, everyone\u2019s training really hard, so every little thing can make a difference,\u201d he says. \u201cHypnosis has helped me to relax, and to bring the positive feeling I have in training to my competitions. I\u2019ve even used it for technical things like improving my wall approaches and turns.\u201d<\/p>\n
So how exactly can hypnosis help a swimmer? By getting into the unconscious mind. \u201cThe mind is like an iceberg,\u201d says Simone, \u201cwith the conscious mind like the 10% tip that shows above the water, compared with the 90% below the surface. This 90% is the unconscious mind, and this is where we find our true selves. By tapping into the unconscious mind through hypnosis, we can undo the limitations that learned behaviour creates in our conscious mind, and develop more positive responses in our behaviour when we need it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The type of trance you enter under hypnosis is far more common than you might think. Consider reading a book or watching a movie, for example, and how you can block out distracting noise and activity \u2013 you actually go into a trance of sorts when you focus on one activity like this. Being able to tap into this state can be very valuable when you\u2019re trying to relax or concentrate, such as before a race.<\/p>\n
This mental ability is one of the three ways that hypnosis can be used with a swimmer. And it goes even further than just blocking things out \u2013 building self-belief, getting into the groove, and being able to ignore the man with the hammer when he\u2019s telling your conscious mind that you can\u2019t give any more.<\/p>\n
Relaxation is another clear benefit. Less obvious is how it can help on the technical side \u2013 by visualizing in your subconscious the mechanics of the perfect stroke, you can perform better, use less energy, help the body recover more quickly, and suffer fewer injuries.<\/p>\n
Another great thing about it is that Marco can invoke it on his own when he needs it: \u201cI also use self-hypnosis when I don\u2019t have much time, and I need to relax, imagine my race, or get into a positive frame of mind.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hypnosis on its own naturally doesn\u2019t make a champion, and for Marco training is still the most important. \u201cBut I\u2019ve also worked with sports psychology since 2009, and started focusing more on my diet in 2013 when a blood test showed that I am sensitive to 78 different foods.\u201d Out went all 78, including gluten products, eggs, and milk. The results have been great, he now has more energy, and has started re-introducing some foods now that his body\u2019s settled down.<\/p>\n
In 2016 Marco is scaling back his competition schedule a little so he can focus on training for the Olympics, but in the first 3 months he\u2019ll be competing in the FFN Golden Tour and the Euro Meet in Luxembourg, followed by Euros in London in May. And as Rio draws closer, one suspects that he and Simone might start spending more time together helping him to, maybe, visualize standing on a podium?<\/p>\n
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