Professional wrestler
Ex-wrestler Stäbler criticizes the excessive pressure in competitive sports
Wrestler Frank Stäbler ended his career last year. photo
© Tom Weller/dpa
Former world-class wrestler Frank Stäbler shares his experiences as a speaker and mental trainer. When it comes to performance requirements in the youth sector, he calls for “the right balance”.
The public discussion about pressure to perform Sport also concerns former top wrestler Frank Stäbler.
“On the one hand, I think it is important to place certain demands on young athletes. Performance has to be worth it,” said the 34-year-old to the German Press Agency. “On the other hand, I can say from my own experience that the bow should not be overstretched. Many young people are put under so much pressure by their environment that at some point they collapse under it. Not everyone has to be a Lionel Messi or LeBron James – i.e. the best of them Sport – become.”
Learning important values through setbacks
A medal is “worth something in every color,” emphasized the three-time world champion and Olympic bronze medalist at Tokyo 2021. “Only those who experience setbacks really appreciate success and learn important values such as discipline and perseverance.” Stäbler reported that excessive pressure from outside often caused problems for him during his active career. “Your own inner satisfaction” is the most important thing. In order to have successful athletes in the future, “the right balance” is needed in their training and support.
Stäbler, who ended his career last year, now works a lot as a speaker and mental trainer – including for German wrestlers. However, his experiences from competitive sports can be transferred to many areas, including the business world, explained the Swabian, who is publishing his second book “Unstoppable” next week.
Recently there have been many discussions in German sport about the pressure to perform – for example on the reform of the national youth games or in youth football.