What can you learn from Michael Phelps’ daily rituals before each race?

For years before the Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps won the gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he followed the same routine at every race. He arrived two hours early. 1 He stretched and loosened up, according to a precise pattern: -

• 800 mixers, 50freestyle,
• 600 kicking with a kickboard,
• 400 pulling a body, and more.

After the warm-up he would dry off, put in his earphones, and sit — never lie down — on the massage table. From that moment, he and his coach, Bob Bowman, wouldn’t speak a word to each other until after the race was over.

At 45 minutes before the race, he would put on his race suit. At 30 he would get into the warm-up pool and do 600 to 800 meters.

With 10 minutes to go, he would walk to the ready room. He would find a seat alone, never next to anyone.

He liked to keep the seats on both sides of him clear for his things: goggles on one side and his towel on the other. When his race was called he would walk to the blocks. There he would do what he always did: 2 stretches, first a straight-leg stretch and then with a bent knee. Left leg first every time. Then the right earbud would come out. When his name was called, he would take out the left earbud. He would…