How does sport affect our character?

Sports strengthen not only the body, but also the spirit. We know this very well. But what exactly are the qualities that systematic training develops? How does sport affect our character?

Konstantin Lopukhin, candidate master of sports in rock climbing

“Perseverance, even stubbornness. Many athletes ride the same track year after year until they finally get it right. In addition, climbing makes a person more inventive. Without it, you won’t get to the top. After all, the rise is still a puzzle. Before you climb up, you sit and come up with move after move: where where to stand and what to cling to.

In addition, the mountain encourages you to constantly step outside your comfort zone. This is what rock climbing inspires me to do – the feeling of growing my own abilities. An hour ago I didn’t know how and I was afraid, but now I know how and I’m not afraid.”

Anton Rykachevsky, has been slacklining for a year*

Slackline teaches concentration. Distracted – fell. The concentration in this case is special, it resembles playing a musical instrument. It’s hard for me to say what exactly is happening on the tape, how exactly I keep my balance, what I think about at these moments.

The body knows everything. It seems to be identified with the tape, imperceptibly for myself, I begin to breathe in time with its vibrations. It takes me about six minutes to walk a rope 100 meters long. I jump off it with a clear head and in a good mood. I feel the same sensations, only stronger, after passing along the tape at a high altitude.

This is a separate direction of slackline – highline. The ribbon is hung between mountains, houses, trees and people walk along it with insurance. At first I was so scared that I couldn’t even take my hands off. My heart started pounding as soon as I put on the harness. But after the first highline passed, the euphoria was indescribable.

And somewhere after the thirtieth, fear disappeared and the most valuable thing for me appeared – a feeling of emptiness, as during meditation.

Yuri Stolyarov, mountain bike coach at Strela sports center

“Mountain biking attracts with its responsiveness. He turns my efforts into distance. Thanks to him, overcoming obstacles becomes an exciting and spectacular game. What qualities of character does he develop? Training has made me more patient: after all, the results never come immediately.

I have learned to overcome the fear of failure. No one is immune from falls, but this does not mean that you should not try again and again. And thanks to mountain biking, I have become more accurate in my calculations and wiser in spending my time and energy.”

Alexey Vasiliev, master of sports in rowing slalom, coach at the Stormy Water Club

“Rafting, or rafting on a mountain river, is a team sport. Each participant here has his own functions, and each is responsible not only for success in the competition, but for the health of all crew members. This sport teaches you to quickly navigate in a new environment and make decisions instantly, keeping your head clear even in difficult situations.”

Natalya Molchanova, master of sports in scuba diving, freediving coach**

“It is difficult to say what qualities of character I acquired or developed while doing freediving. But this sport definitely taught me to maintain inner balance even in difficult life situations. After all, diving to the depths is akin to meditation.

You can dive to a depth of several meters only when you are relaxed and concentrated, with a clear head. Otherwise, there will not be enough air for a long time: every tense muscle, every thought or excitement significantly increases the oxygen consumption. In addition, plunging into the underwater world without sound and light, I feel the beauty of life more fully when I emerge to the surface.

^* Slackline (tracing paper from the English slackline – “sagging rope”) – walking on a loosely stretched tape 2–6 centimeters wide.

^** Diving while holding your breath.