Some people argue that the fittest and strongest individuals and teams can achieve the greatest success in sports. But other people think that success is much related to mental attitude. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

IELTS Task 2: Some people argue that the fittest and strongest individuals and teams can achieve the greatest success in sports. But other people think that success is much related to mental attitude. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Since the national fitness program has taken root, the interest in sports games has rocketed up. While spectating the thrilling games, people often find themselves in the debate of whether physical strength can outweigh mental attitude when it crowning a victor’s wreath. I firmly believe that psychological showdowns determine a game.

The psychological factor is crucial to the results of sports competitions. Stable mental states may help athletes become the dark horse, and vice versa. For instance, Ryu Seung Min from Korea rocked China’s absolute dominance in ping pong in Athens Olympics, which was far beyond everyone’s expectation. However, in Rio Olympics, in the final set of women volleyball, Serbia was crushed by the score discrepancy and failed to turn the tide. Besides, the atmosphere created by competitors, audience or even judges can dominant athletes’ mental activities. One of the examples is the home-away scoring difference. China won 302 medals in Beijing Olympics, a shocking number comparing with 70 medals in Rio Olympics. The athletes from China and other countries in both Olympics all rank the top in their own playing field, but why the numbers of medals plunged violently in 2016? Psychology matters.

Nevertheless, it is the view of many, supported by the 3 spirits enshrining Olympics, physical duels are the core of sports contests. Then, what are the differences between beasts’ slaughtering each other and humans’ fights for medals? Indeed, the strongest or fittest athletes are likely to win. But mind the fact that sports events are human based, namely meaning that great uncertainties exist. Rather than fights, they are games in nature, in which complex psychological changes manipulate the results.

If physical strength is to sports what lines are to a stage play, the psychological quality plays the role of actors in a stage play as in sports events. It is the soul of sports-the art of fights. Only with the greatest mentality can athletes achieve the crowning victory in sports.