This lecture explores how success in sports ranging from extreme cold water swimming to World Cup rugby are linked by a common thread - the role of self-belief.

In the past Prof. Tim Noakes was convinced that physiology could explain performance. After 38 years of studying the human body, he now believes that the mind, and the role of self-belief, are crucial factors in human athletic feats. In January 2008, Noakes presented this lecture entitled “Beyond the VO2 max: The role of self-belief in elite athletic performance” at Croke Park Stadium, Dublin.