> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.grantgiles.com.au/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# The Psychology of Performance, on Effortless Swimming
- URL: https://www.grantgiles.com.au/psychology-of-performance-effortless-swimming/
- Published: 2016-05-11T23:20:15.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-25T05:15:16.000Z
- Description: My first time on Effortless Swimming: the psychology of performance, whether visualisation works, whether pain is really pain, and why coaches never win.
- Author: Grant Giles
- Tags: Podcast, #guest-spot, Mind

My first time on Brenton Ford's Effortless Swimming podcast, episode 66, back in May 2016: the psychology of performance, and how mindfulness and other techniques can help you break through mental barriers. Brenton introduced me through two of the athletes I was coaching then, Tim Van Berkel and Clayton Fettell.

[Listen to the episode (MP3)](https://media.blubrry.com/effortlessswimming/traffic.libsyn.com/effortlessswimming/The%5FPsychology%5FOf%5FPerformance%5Fwith%5FGrant%5FGiles.mp3?ref=grantgiles.com.au)

## The guest

Effortless Swimming is the podcast of Brenton Ford, an Australian swim coach. This was episode 66 of his show. Brenton came to me through two of the athletes I was coaching at the time, Tim Van Berkel and Clayton Fettell.

## In this episode

- 01:34 · Flashback to 1987
- 04:21 · What I've learned over the years
- 07:34 · Athletes' biggest challenges
- 10:50 · Does visualisation work?
- 15:22 · Is pain actually pain?
- 18:15 · Coaches never win
- 25:39 · Tuning in to your body
- 31:37 · A lifelong enjoyment of sport
- 37:30 · The aerobic threshold zone
- 43:56 · What really increases your speed and propulsion?

Show notes and the full transcript are on [Effortless Swimming](https://effortlessswimming.com/the-psychology-of-performance-with-grant-giles/?ref=grantgiles.com.au). Brenton had me back in 2018: [Race on Instinct](https://www.grantgiles.com.au/race-on-instinct-effortless-swimming/).

## From the episode

> The first arrow is whatever the issue is, whether it's swim speed, heat, run speed, whatever, and the second arrow is the judgement about the issue, and the first arrow is fine on its own, the second arrow is the problem.

> If you just have the process without the judgement from the mind, you can really do a lot more than you think.

## Where this fits

Taking the judgement out of what you feel, so heat is just heat and effort is just effort, is the Discomfort part of how I coach: pain judged is pain expanded. More on that in [Discomfort](https://www.grantgiles.com.au/pillars/mental-progression/discomfort/).

## Keep reading

- [Clayton Fettell: A Journey Of Transformation](https://www.grantgiles.com.au/clayton-fettell-a-journey-of-transformation/): Clayton's story of getting back to simple, in his own words
- [Transforming Pain](https://www.grantgiles.com.au/transforming-pain/): your judgement of pain does more damage than the pain
- [Brain Training](https://www.grantgiles.com.au/brain-training/): how visualisation trains the feeling you want on race day
- [Active Rest](https://www.grantgiles.com.au/active-rest/): why I don't want you breaking rhythm every winter