Mental Toughness for High School & College Athletes

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Mental Toughness for High School & College Athletes

✨ Mental performance coach & former European table tennis champ helping athletes, pros & teams build confidence, focus & resilience. www.dorakurimay.com

Author, speaker & mindset expert on a mission to unlock your peak performance in sport and life! 💪🌟 This program will help you address how to be in the zone and build your mental toughness through sport psychology techniques so that you can play the best game of your life and enjoy it more! It will provide you a holistic program on and off the court. Your performance depends on how we manage our e

nergy: how you can attain and keep your optimal energy level during a match especially when you need it the most—during the highest level of competition. This program will get you going and will help you to develop your customized personal routine between points and your mental skills. You will get the basic principles and techniques you need. The hard work of applying them to your training and to your sports. Dora Kurimay, a former Hungarian Table Tennis National team member and sports performance and mental skills coach.

07/22/2026

Champions aren't made only during the match.
They're made in the moments between matches.
How you recover, reset, and prepare while you're waiting can determine how you perform when it's your turn to compete.

Whether you play table tennis or any other sport, your mindset between matches matters.
How do you stay ready while you wait?
🎾🏓 Share your routine below.

07/16/2026

Pressure doesn’t require more control — it requires better focus. 🎯
The best performers don’t try to control the outcome. They control what they can control: their attention.
A simple routine — breathe, focus your eyes, create a visual cue, and return to the present moment — can help you stay calm and execute when it matters most.

In table tennis, every point is a new opportunity. The past is gone. The future isn’t here yet.
Your best performance happens right in front of you. 🏓

07/14/2026

The biggest moments in sport are often decided by more than just technique. They are decided by your ability to stay calm, focused, and present under pressure.

In this conversation, Robert Gardos — 13-time European medalist and founder of — shares his experience competing at the highest level and explains how elite athletes prepare mentally for crucial moments.

We discuss:�🧠 How to stay present under pressure�🏓 How to handle important points during competition�🔥 Mental preparation before tournaments�💨 How routines and breathing can improve performance

The mental game is a skill that can be trained. I’m excited to share this conversation and support players who want to improve not only their technique but also their confidence, preparation, and mindset.

🎥 Watch the full conversation here:�https://youtu.be/Aw6UiY528H4?si=uAY5gr1Mjs-ibm3a

What is the biggest mental challenge you face during competition? 👇

06/30/2026

Try this simple reset:

Before you step onto the field, court, stage, or tee box—or line up for a penalty kick—pause and take a few slow, deep breaths.

It helps calm your body, slow your thoughts, and get you back into the right mindset to perform at your best.

Watch many of the best players in the world before a big moment—like a World Cup penalty—and you’ll often see them take that same quiet pause and breath. It’s a simple but powerful way to settle the nervous system, sharpen focus, and prepare for what’s next.

Your body follows your breath. Make it work for you.

Your breath can either control you… or help you take control.

It’s simple—but it works.

06/26/2026

What separates great athletes from the rest?
Often, it's not physical ability—it's mental toughness.
In this carousel, I share actionable strategies athletes can use to stay resilient, focused, and confident during challenges and competition.

For a deeper dive, read the full article: https://dorakurimay.com/blog/how-to-build-mental-toughness-for-athletes/

What's one habit that has helped you become mentally stronger?

06/23/2026

The first step to getting in the zone? Knowing your state.

Too much energy can hurt performance. Too little can too.

Before any big performance—whether it’s a game, presentation, competition, or important conversation—learn to recognize the signals:
✓ Heart rate�✓ Focus�✓ Emotions�✓ Energy level

The best performers don’t just prepare for the moment. They learn how to adjust their state before the moment arrives.
Watch the full Game Day Calm episode through the link in bio. 🎯

06/21/2026

Some of life’s most important lessons aren’t taught through words—they’re taught through example.

The values that shape us most often come from those who show up with integrity, kindness, resilience, and heart every day. I’m grateful for the inspiration, support, and love that helped shape who I am and how I lead, coach, and live.

To all the fathers and father figures who lead with strength, wisdom, and compassion—thank you for the impact you make every day.

Happy Father’s Day 💙

06/20/2026

As the week comes to a close, take a few minutes to check in with yourself.

Before Monday, write down:
✅ One win�🤔 One challenge�🎯 One focus for next week

Progress isn't about being perfect. It's about learning, growing, and moving forward one step at a time.
I'd love to hear from you—what's one thing you're working on improving right now?

📩 Send me a message with the word RESET.

06/17/2026

🏓 Stronger Together: Reflections on the Season
As the April–May season comes to a close, I’m grateful for the opportunity to play alongside the Heat team and make it to the playoffs at the Team Tournament.

Looking back, one lesson stands out: success is never about one person. Every team is made up of individuals with different strengths, roles, and perspectives. When matches get tough, it’s often the positivity, energy, support, and mindset we bring that make the biggest difference.

Every tournament provides feedback. It highlights what’s working, what needs adjustment, and where we can continue to grow—not only as players, but as teammates. Those lessons are what make the journey rewarding.

A huge thank you to for organizing the team and bringing everyone together. Your dedication behind the scenes made this experience possible.

I’m also grateful for the table tennis community. Beyond the competition, it’s the friendships, encouragement, and shared passion for the sport that make every event memorable.

As I reflect on this season, I’m thankful for the experiences, lessons, and people who were part of it. Looking forward to continuing to learn, improve, and come back stronger for the next one. 💪🏓

06/16/2026

Feeling anxious before a tournament, competition, presentation, or big moment is completely normal.

The goal isn’t to eliminate anxiety—it’s to learn how to work with it.

Start by noticing what you’re feeling:
• Cognitive anxiety → worry, doubt, overthinking
• Somatic anxiety → racing heart, butterflies, muscle tension

Then shift your interpretation: anxiety and excitement share similar physical signals. Reframing it as energy can help you use it instead of fight it.

From there, build tools that support performance—CBT strategies, breathing work, and visualization.

Awareness is step one. Understanding is step two. Performing with it is the real skill.

Address

New York, NY

Telephone

+13478491563

Website

http://dorakurimay.com/

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