The Mental Posture of an Athlete: Chelsea Byrne
This story appears in Issue 1: Body Posture of Studies, a series of magazine-style studies in art and design.
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Chelsea Byrne embodies the determination and grit of any great athlete. She’s the kind of crazy that is willing to climb Everest; the chutzpah to keep going to the top.
I remember the first moment she learned to swim; or at least, I remember it through the dense filter of childhood memory and family folktale. Chels was three, we were on a family trip to San Francisco, swimming in the hotel pool and she dove into the deep end to get toys from the bottom.
She’s my younger sister by three years, but she has more mental strength and athletic resolution than I could ever hope to possess. When she sets her mind to something, she goes for it – and there’s no stopping her. I’ve watched her will and spirit fasten into solid pillars of discipline over the years as she’s kept at her sport (swimming), so when she said she wanted to do a super triathlon in the fall, it was a no brainer.
I cried as I watched Chels pass by on her bike after she raced 10k, headed to the starting line of the running portion. It was like all these moments of childhood were coming together to form who she was made to be. Strength, confidence, mental poise and grit: Chelsea Byrne in a nutshell.
September 15, one day before the race:
Why did you decide to do a triathlon?
I love the challenge it presented – competing in three sports in one morning. The rush of adrenaline you feel – the determination, I just wanted to do it [for the sake of it] and to prove to myself that I’m capable.
How do you view athleticism and the body?
Being athletic is taking care of your body and feeling the best you can in your own body. It has a lot to do with confidence and outlook on life. When you’re healthy, working hard and being active it gives you a better perspective on life. Taking care of [self] is really important.
Do you think it has changed your perspective on discipline and athleticism?
[Athleticism] goes to show you can do anything you set your mind to. I mean, we’ll see what happens tomorrow morning [laughs]. If you have the right determination, the right attitude, you can really do anything you set your mind to. It’s not even just about being in a triathlon or training for this, it’s just anything in life.
In terms of being an athlete, can you talk the relationship between body posture and your mental state?
Physical posture, when you sit up straight and hold yourself with pride, or whatever it is, then you’re more confident in who you are and you look more presentable. Even just mental posture and emotional posture – if you think of yourself in uplifting terms and if you don’t put yourself down, or think on bad thoughts – posture, in every sense of the word, is important to maintain.
