Confidence Tips from Linoy Ashram

Linoy Ashram made history as the first Israeli woman to win an Olympic gold medal, breaking a decades-long dominance in rhythmic gymnastics at the Tokyo Games. While her routines were packed with unprecedented difficulty, it was her unwavering confidence—even after a rare ribbon drop—that secured her place on the top of the podium. Through her Olympic press interviews and post-game reflections, Ashram has shared the mental blueprint she uses to stay composed when the world is watching.

The Power of “Mental Reset”

Ashram’s confidence is rooted in her ability to forgive herself in real-time. During her gold-medal performance, she experienced a small error with the ribbon. Instead of panicking, she executed a “mental reset” within seconds.

“I told myself, ‘It’s over, it happened, now move on.’ You cannot bring the past into the next movement,” Ashram noted in a post-event press conference.

For Ashram, confidence isn’t the belief that you will be perfect; it is the belief that you can recover from anything. This resilience is what separates champions from competitors.

5 Confidence Pillars from the Olympic Champion

• Work Until It’s “Quiet”: Ashram famously trained more hours than almost any other gymnast. She believes that true confidence is the “quiet” feeling you get when you know you’ve done the work. Her Advice: If you are nervous, it’s often because you feel unprepared. Over-prepare until the movement becomes a reflex.
• The “Black Hole” Technique: In Tokyo, Ashram spoke about tuning out the crowd and the judges. She visualizes a “black hole” around the carpet where nothing exists except her and the apparatus. Her Advice: Focus on the object in your hand, not the people in the stands.
• Positive Self-Talk as a Shield: Ashram is known for whispering to herself before she steps onto the carpet. She uses short, powerful mantras like “I am strong” or “This is my moment” to block out intrusive thoughts.
• Embrace the Underdog Role: Before her win, Ashram was rarely the favorite for gold. She used this “underdog” status to her advantage, feeling she had everything to gain and nothing to lose. Her Advice: Don’t let the pressure of being “the best” crush you. Compete as if you are still climbing to the top.
• Physical Posture as a Trigger: Even when she feels tired, Ashram maintains a “royal” posture—shoulders back, chin up. She believes that if you act confident physically, your brain eventually starts to believe the lie until it becomes the truth.

Ultimately, Linoy Ashram’s gold medal proves that confidence is not about never dropping the ribbon, but about never dropping your head when things go wrong.

Source: Olympic press interviews

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By Vitalina Andrushchenko, Staff Writer