Dr Sacha Fulton: Preparation, Adaptability and Performing Under Pressure

What does great preparation actually look like?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr Sacha Fulton, Accredited Sports Scientist, athlete preparation specialist, founder of Peak Preparation and a two-time Rottnest Channel solo swimmer, to explore how athletes can build the behaviours, routines and adaptability needed to perform when conditions don't go to plan.

Drawing on her experiences in elite sport, her work with Olympic and Paralympic athletes, and her own journey through endurance sport and open water swimming, Sacha shares why preparation is about far more than simply accumulating training kilometres.

We discuss:

• Why training performance and competition performance are not the same thing
• The role of preparation in managing uncertainty and pressure
• How adaptability can be developed through training
• Pool fitness versus open-water readiness
• Why open water swimmers should prepare for changing conditions, not perfect conditions
• The danger of becoming too reliant on numbers and metrics
• What separates elite athletes from recreational athletes
• The importance of consistency, recovery and behaviour change
• Why calmness on the start line is often a reflection of preparation

Whether you're preparing for your first open water swim, a Rottnest Channel crossing, or simply looking to become a more resilient and adaptable athlete, this episode offers practical insights from someone who has spent a career helping athletes perform at their best.

Links

🌐 Peak Preparation: https://www.peakpreparation.com.au/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peakpreparation/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sacha-fulton/

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This interview was recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. I acknowledge the Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of these lands and waters and pay my respects to Elders past and present.