Switzerland’s Martin Dougoud has revealed that he has been using hypnosis as he visualises his path to the Canoe Slalom podium at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Dougoud will make his second appearance at the Games after making his Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020.
Since featuring at the Olympics three years ago, Dougoud has enjoyed success on the continental and global stage.
Dougoud won K1 silver at the 2023 European Games before earning kayak cross bronze at last year’s ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships.
The Swiss paddler has also started this year strongly in kayak cross with bronze at the ECA Canoe Slalom European Championships and gold at the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in Krakow.
The 33-year-old believes these impressive performances have been the result of his work to improve his mind after turning to hypnotherapy.
“I have changed many things in my mind (over the past three years) to find out why I am doing this sport and why I am waking every morning,” said Dougoud.
“It’s because I love this sport, I love the pressure and I love to race. I’m a competitor.
“I’ve been using hypnosis to prepare my mind and trying to breathe calmly.
“I’m visualising the course and staying focused on what I am doing and what I can do and not what others are doing.
“It’s always a physical and mental challenge.
“I have a coach, someone for my mind and then someone to help my physicality. I have many people around me to help me to be good.
“I have been working (with a mind coach) for the past five or six years but changed (mind coaches) in 2021.”
Dougoud ranked 13th in K1 at Tokyo 2020 after being knocked out in the semi-finals.
He will now have two opportunities for a medal at Paris 2024 with kayak cross poised to make its much-anticipated Olympic debut in the French capital.
It is an exciting chance for Dougoud who captured men’s kayak cross gold at the final ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup before the Olympics.
“I will compete in kayak and kayak cross in Paris,” said Dougoud.
“I am trying to be focused on the present and be good in every training session.
“Kayak cross is a bit different.
“You have four people on the ramp, and you don’t know what is going to happen whereas in slalom it is only you against the gates and the water.
“For me it is two different disciplines.
“I think many people will like kayak cross because it is spectacular.
“It is also easy to understand as there are four people competing against each other and two will go through to the quarters, semi-finals and final.
“And there are some fights which people like. It is quite impressive.”
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