The Victory Degree

The Brutal Reality of Elite Performance | Brett Hawke

Episode Summary

What does it really take to push human limits? Brett Hawke — Olympian, world-renowned swim coach, and coach in the Enhanced Games — joins me to reveal the uncomfortable truths about elite performance. From why “working harder” is the most dangerous advice in sports, to how recovery, self-belief, and even delusional confidence separate good athletes from great ones, this conversation will change how you think about success. In this episode, we discuss: - How comparison can unlock — or destroy — human potential - The dangerous myth of “just work harder” - How recovery became the real key to elite performance - The mindset shift that turns fear into Olympic gold

Episode Notes

From why “working harder” is the most dangerous advice in sports, to how recovery, self-belief, and even delusional confidence separate good athletes from great ones, this conversation will change how you think about success.

In this episode, we discuss:

- How comparison can unlock human potential

- The dangerous myth of “just work harder”

- How recovery became the real key to elite performance

- The mindset shift that turns fear into Olympic gold

Connect with Brett:

Twitter: x.com/insidewithBH

Instagram: instagram.com/hawkebr/

Connect with Nik:

Instagram: instagram.com/victorywithnik/

Twitter: x.com/victorywithnik

YouTube: youtube.com/@TheVictoryDegree