This attitude is no different with our Olympic athletes and could be their secret to success at the Paris Games. 
What might seem like a lack of seriousness to others, is actually a cultural trait and innate feeling that runs deep throughout the Australian Olympic movement.

Of course, the training regimens for our Aussie athletes are rigorous and demanding, but they are often complemented by a strong emphasis on team spirit, camaraderie, and mental well-being. 

For the Kookaburras, the most effective thing they can do before a game is work on their connection. 

“We’re big coffee drinkers, and the social thing we do to get ourselves out of our head before the game, is to just catch up, have a coffee and just decompress before we go out and play,” captain Aran Zalewski said. 

“I like to try and keep it pretty relaxed… just smiling and enjoying the experience,” said his teammate Corey Weyer.

This holistic approach ensures that athletes remain motivated and enjoy their journey, reducing the pressure and stress that can accompany high-stakes competitions. 

“When you play [Rugby] Sevens you have to be ready for anything. I’ve always had the mindset -  if I have things that I need to do before I play and then I can’t, it won’t set me up for success,” Charlotte Caslick says. 

Cassiel Rousseau, reigning 10m platform world champion, further epitomises this laid-back nature, living by the message of doing what you do for fun, and then the results will follow. 

“I’m not necessarily there to win medals, as harsh as that sounds. But for me, enjoying it as a forefront leaves the pressure off it,” Cassiel said.

Even 17-year-old Ruby Pass follows this same persona. 

“I don’t have any superstitions, should I be worried about that?”

This relaxed vibe, deeply ingrained in the Australian psyche, not only makes for a more enjoyable sporting experience but also seems to unlock peak performance when it matters most.

Mimi Sillar