Carlos Garach returned to open water competition this Saturday at the Ibiza World Cup, a year after his temporary retirement and the bad experience at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where he withdrew in the Seine. Freed from economic and mental pressure thanks to his military training, the athlete from Granada competed in the three-kilometer knockout sprint format, finishing third in the first 1,500-meter heat, just seven-tenths of a second behind Hungarian David Betlehem.
The military factor as a performance optimization system 🎯
The military training Garach received not only gave him discipline, but also allowed him to develop a stress management system based on tactical protocols. Instead of relying on sports psychologists or visualization techniques, the swimmer applies breathing control and millisecond decision-making routines, similar to those used in combat. This pragmatic approach reduces cognitive load during high-intensity sprints, where every tenth of a second counts. The elimination of economic pressure, by having a fixed salary as a soldier, also removed a variable that often distorts performance in elite athletes.
From the Seine to Ibiza: fewer bacteria and more mental control 🏊
If in Paris Garach swallowed water from the Seine and withdrew due to stomach problems, in Ibiza at least he knew the water wouldn't take him out of the fight prematurely. Now, with his new soldier mindset, the only things that can make him withdraw are a cramp or a shark crossing his path. Meanwhile, his rivals continue using anxiolytics and mindfulness coaches; he only needs a training rifle and a couple of strokes to feel at home.