The tennis queen famously wears the same pair of socks throughout an entire tournament, regardless of sweat or smell. "It's kind of gross," she admits, "but for me, it works!"
This unwavering commitment to her unhygienic ritual highlights the lengths some athletes go to in pursuit of perceived good luck.
This champion has a specific order for arranging his water bottles on the court, ensuring the labels always face the baseline. He also makes sure that his opponent crosses the net before he does during a changeover. While seemingly insignificant, Nadal's specific routine exemplifies the meticulousness and focus often associated with elite athletes.
These routines can be a way for them to channel their energy and establish a sense of control in the face of uncertainty.
This intense pitcher’s ritual included getting dressed at the exact same time on the day that he starts and wearing the exact same outfit that his kids picked out for him at the beginning of the year.
He had to wear that outfit every five days and his wife had to have it dry-cleaned for him every week. One item his kids always included in his outfit were Scooby Doo boxer shorts.
He owned a pair of shorts for every NBA team, wearing the opposing team's shorts the night before each game. "It gets me in the mindset of the opponent," he revealed. Terry's unique approach to pregame visualization demonstrates the diverse ways athletes prepare mentally for competition.
By wearing the opposing team's uniform, he entered the game feeling familiar with his opponent's "skin" and ready to strategize.
The tennis star’s lucky number seems to be eight. He had to serve eight aces before beginning a match, have eight towel rubs at the end of a set, he set up eight water bottles courtside and carried eight tennis rackets.
"It's a comfort thing," he confessed. Federer's routine exemplifies the importance of consistency and mental preparation in high-pressure situations. By sticking to familiar rituals, he creates a sense of normalcy and reduces pre-match jitters.
Nicknamed "Mr. Goalie" for a reason, Hall believed he wouldn't win unless he threw up before the game. Trainers kept a bucket handy by the bench just for him. Hall's unusual ritual sheds light on the lengths some athletes go to for perceived good luck.
While seemingly illogical, his belief in the ritual's power may have contributed to his mental focus and confidence on the ice.
This fierce competitor would get his head in the game. Before every game, Garnett would walk to the padded section under the basket, adjust his shorts, bow his head, and then pound his head into the padding a couple of times.
This routine served to psych him up and flip a switch to focus on the game. He also always ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich before games, a ritual that other teammates also adopted.
This soccer star may play with confidence on the field, but she admits to usually being very anxious on game days. A very important ritual for her is a pre-game nap. She also listened to the same music on the bus rides and believed in doing visualizations.
Replaying plays in her head seemed to help calm her nerves a little. Her teammates gave her trouble about her nerves, saying that she was always anxious on flights, too.
This powerhouse golfer is a self-proclaimed “nut case” when it comes to her superstitions on the golf course. She said that her “least weird one” is that she has a bag full of ball markers. She has to shake it and likes to pick out a lucky one.
And she used to have a Stanford marker that was white and red. If she started missing putts, she would flip it to the other side. Wie also changed the way she wrote fours on her scorecard. She also never wore all white or any pink on Fridays.
The "Big Fundamental" was known for his quiet demeanor and meticulous pregame routine. This included arriving at the arena early, stretching for a specific amount of time, and always taking two jump shots before tip-off.
On practice days, Duncan would always wear his practice shorts backwards during practice. In college he wore his practice shorts backwards by accident once and he had a great practice. That began the tradition.
This Japanese legend always pointed his bat towards the pitcher's mound with his right hand while tugging at his sleeve with his left hand. He also stands in the batter’s box with both knees pointed inward. It looks uncomfortable, but somehow works for him.
His stance is certainly strange, but the tugging of the jersey is definitely the strangest part. Makes you wonder where a ritual like that comes from. Did he have an itch one time and then get a big hit right after scratching it?
Agassi had a unique preference for watching scary movies before matches, which he believed helped him to relax and focus on the court. Despite the intense pressure of professional tennis, Agassi found comfort in his rituals, such as tying his shoelaces in a specific way and wearing a particular outfit.
These superstitions and routines became an integral part of Agassi's mental preparation and contributed to his success on the tennis court.
During his basketball career, Nowitzki was practically automatic at the free-throw line. It turns out that a Counting Crows song was the secret to his 87.9% career free-throw percentage. When he was younger he used to feel pressure at the free-throw line.
A coach told him to ease up and sing a song while standing at the free-throw line. That helped him relax and focus on the line. Dirk said the song “Mr. Jones” by the Counting Crows comforted him while shooting.
This Arsenal legend had a series of superstitions that he adhered to before every match. One notable ritual involved Henry's insistence on touching the ball with his forehead before kickoff, a gesture he believed brought him luck and focus. Additionally, Henry was known for his meticulous preparation, including wearing the same socks and boots for every game.
These superstitions were deeply ingrained in Henry's routine and contributed to his mindset and performance on the field throughout his career.
Bolt, widely regarded as one of the greatest sprinters of all time, had some unique practices before hitting the track. One of his rituals involved the application of baby oil on his skin, which he believed helped him to relax and perform better. Additionally, Bolt was known for his signature pose, "To Di World," which he executed before every race to psych himself up and intimidate his opponents.
These superstitions and rituals were integral parts of Bolt's pre-race routine, contributing to his mental preparation and success on the track.
Beyond his legendary basketball skills, Jordan was known for his meticulous routines before every game. One notable superstition involved wearing his North Carolina shorts underneath his Chicago Bulls uniform for good luck. This ritual symbolized Jordan's connection to his alma mater and served as a source of motivation and confidence on the court.
Despite its personal significance, Jordan's superstition became an iconic part of his pregame routine, showcasing the importance of mindset and preparation in his unparalleled success in basketball.
Former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning had a special T-shirt that he wore for every regular season game, considering it his lucky charm. However, it's worth noting that the shirt did get washed after each game. Manning took great care in choosing the right shirt before each season, sifting through many options during the preseason before settling on one.
Despite some seeing this as excessive, there's no denying that the T-shirt seemed to bring Manning good fortune, as he led the Giants to two Super Bowl victories (in 2008 and 2012) while wearing it.
Sidney Crosby has particular preferences for his hockey sticks—they must be cut to precise lengths and taped in specific ways. Once they're taped, nobody else is allowed to touch them. If someone does, Crosby feels the need to completely re-tape the stick, believing it won't perform properly unless he handles it alone.
Another superstition of Crosby's is avoiding calling his mother on game days. He's had three instances where he did call her, and each time, he suffered significant injuries—a dislocated shoulder, a broken foot, and shattered teeth.
Borg was known for his meticulous pre-match preparations, which included a strict adherence to routines and superstitions. He became highly superstitious, developing rituals such as always wearing the same Fila shirt, taking the same route to the court, and bouncing the ball a specific number of times before serving.
Borg's rituals and routines contributed to his legendary status in tennis and added to the enigma surrounding his persona on and off the court.
One of the most famous pre-match rituals in men's soccer started during the 1998 World Cup. French defender Laurent Blanc began kissing goalkeeper Fabien Barthez's bald head before every game. As the French team kept winning, they continued this superstition.
Even in the final, when Blanc couldn't play, he still came onto the pitch in his uniform to repeat the ceremony with the goalkeeper. It seemed like there was something special about the kiss because France won the tournament for the first time ever. Two years later, they won Euro 2000 as well, and Blanc continued his ritual throughout.
The "Rowdy" one’s unconventional approach to preparing for fights included engaging in intimacy as part of her routine. Despite the traditional belief that abstaining from intimacy before a fight boosts performance, Rousey believed otherwise and claimed that engaging in sexual activity made her feel more relaxed and focused.
While some may view Rousey's approach as controversial, she defended her beliefs and emphasized the importance of mental preparation in the world of professional fighting.
During his time with the Kansas City Royals, Bo Jackson liked to unwind by shooting arrows at targets in the clubhouse. Although it might sound scary, his teammates were more curious than worried.
Sometimes, they even let Bo play a game where he aimed at apples in their hands, like the story of William Tell. It's just the kind of quirky routine that seems to happen during long playoff droughts.
This world record holder always used the same safety pins to pin her racing bib to her shirt before every marathon. "It's a lucky charm," she admitted.
Radcliffe's safety pin superstition highlights the power of personal objects and rituals in establishing a sense of confidence before a grueling race. The small pin served as a reminder of past successes and a source of comfort on race day.
The four-time Olympic medalist uses apps to keep himself busy between dives. "When elite athletes compete, they have to decide on their routine," the 32-year-old told PEOPLE. "Sometimes I have to wait 20 or 30 minutes between dives. I need to find something to keep my mind occupied.
So my routine is when I'm not diving, I picture myself staying focused. And one way I do that is by playing Tetris. The blocks fall really fast, and I have to figure out how to get them, so my mind stays in competition mode."
Djokovic, known for his meticulous approach to tennis, revealed some of the secret rituals he follows for success. These rituals include wearing the same shoes and socks, entering the court at the same time, and bouncing the ball a specific number of times before serving.
Djokovic believes these rituals help him mentally prepare and stay focused during matches. Overall, his adherence to these superstitions highlights the importance of routine and mindset in his performance on the tennis court.
