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“The key is to normalize your situation, normalize your lifestyle,” he explained. “I have a very consistent and disciplined lifestyle. I surround myself with people who are loyal and full of integrity, and that’s the foundation. And going to the Olympics, nothing changes.”
This does not mean that he does not appreciate the peak of international competition, most notably being surrounded by similar athletes in the Olympic Village. “Everything about the Olympics, besides the competition, was different,” Eaton recalls of Tokyo. “The media and the attention around it, I’ve never seen anything like this before, so it was unusual.”
“But competing in pressure mode, I felt right at home. I remember putting my headphones on and warming up before the event and saying, ‘Wow, I didn’t know I would feel this comfortable,'” he continued. “”
That’s why he prides himself on being “incredibly present,” because the available moment is the only thing that matters in a situation like this.
“If you’re thinking about a meeting you’re going to have next week, you’re going to make it 10 times crazier in your head than when you actually get to the meeting,” Eaton said. “The great part about the Olympics is the anticipation. I think that’s where a lot of athletes fail, because they make it so much bigger in their heads. It’s just another competition.”