--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We're so trained to be 'mentally tough,'…" description: "\"We're so trained to be 'mentally tough,' in sports.\" — Mardy Fish" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/mardy-fish-5307_mentally_we-re-so-trained-to-be-mentally-tough-in_71153.png" --- # We're so trained to be 'mentally tough,' in sports. ![“We're so trained to be 'mentally tough,' in sports.” quote by Mardy Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/mardy-fish-5307_mentally_we-re-so-trained-to-be-mentally-tough-in_71153.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/mardy-fish-5307_mentally_we-re-so-trained-to-be-mentally-tough-in_71153.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/mardy-fish-5307_mentally_we-re-so-trained-to-be-mentally-tough-in_71153.png) > “We're so trained to be 'mentally tough,' in sports.” [Mardy Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques the cultural pressure in athletics to develop a hard‑headed, unflappable mindset, suggesting it may overlook emotional nuance and mental health. **In simple terms:** Sports demand emotional resilience, but it can be over‑emphasized. Key Takeaway Balance toughness with emotional awareness. Themes mental health sports culture resilience psychology performance pressure Mood reflective critical thought‑provoking Type observation commentary When to use this quote - coaching sessions - team meetings - athlete counseling - sports documentaries - media interviews Key Concepts athlete mindset mental toughness emotional intelligence Practical Applications - mental health workshops for athletes - coach education on emotional support Questions to Reflect On - How can athletes cultivate resilience without suppressing emotions? - What role should coaches play in fostering emotional well‑being? A Different Perspective Some argue that mental toughness is essential for competitive edge and that softening it could reduce performance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mentally tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentally-tough/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) ## Related quotes > [Bavaro's probably as tough of a - physically and mentally as tough a football player as I've ever coached. So, I would put him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-belichick/bavaro-s-probably-as-tough-of-a-physically-and-mentally-as-tough-a/) [Bill Belichick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-belichick/) > [Oh, 'Sports Night' was tough because 'Sports Night' was... Well, you know, it's like Mamet. It's Sorkin. And I didn't realize that you had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alanna-ubach/oh-sports-night-was-tough-because-sports-night-was-well-you-know-it-s/) [Alanna Ubach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alanna-ubach/) > [I think when you have a good warm up you feel good about your performance. You know that you've trained so mentally you're in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keauna-mclaughlin/i-think-when-you-have-a-good-warm-up-you-feel-good-about-your/) Keauna McLaughlin > [“And I’d trained myself mentally to forget. Trained my body to become fit. I became adept at putting on a front. And lying. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sibel-hodge/and-i-d-trained-myself-mentally-to-forget-trained-my-body-to-become/) [Sibel Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sibel-hodge/) > [If you give all your effort and all the fight and all the heart you got, it doesn't necessarily mean you're going to win,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyronn-lue/if-you-give-all-your-effort-and-all-the-fight-and-all-the-heart-you/) [Tyronn Lue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyronn-lue/) > [If you're not mentally tough, If nerves undo you instead of focus you, If you don't have the inner arrogance That you absolutely have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-sanders/if-you-re-not-mentally-tough-if-nerves-undo-you-instead-of-focus-you/) [Summer Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-sanders/) > [I went from being one of the best players, batting .550, to not being able to do it mentally, hitting .200. I thought I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weddle/i-went-from-being-one-of-the-best-players-batting-550-to-not-being/) [Eric Weddle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weddle/) > [When you know where you want to go, you're mentally tough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-gobert/when-you-know-where-you-want-to-go-you-re-mentally-tough/) [Rudy Gobert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-gobert/) > [If you look at anyone at the top of their profession, there has to be something a little bit different. You have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-owen/if-you-look-at-anyone-at-the-top-of-their-profession-there-has-to-be-2/) [Michael Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-owen/) > [I understand it's our job to win and to entertain. I understand that. But in terms of the commentary or the negativity, if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/i-understand-it-s-our-job-to-win-and-to-entertain-i-understand-that/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) > [You've got to be mentally tough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-elkins/you-ve-got-to-be-mentally-tough/) [Darren Elkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-elkins/) > [The best way to become a mentally tough runner is to believe that you're a mentally tough runner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-hall/the-best-way-to-become-a-mentally-tough-runner-is-to-believe-that-you/) [Ryan Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-hall/) > [I know that if I'm 100% mentally on, I'm tough to beat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-monfils/i-know-that-if-i-m-100-mentally-on-i-m-tough-to-beat/) [Gael Monfils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-monfils/) > [Tennis is a tough sport - a long year, a lot of matches, a lot of travelling. It's not easy so being mentally tough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-de-minaur/tennis-is-a-tough-sport-a-long-year-a-lot-of-matches-a-lot-of/) [Alex de Minaur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-de-minaur/) > [I think I was as mentally tough as I've ever been. I felt like I handled the situation both on and off the court…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lleyton-hewitt/i-think-i-was-as-mentally-tough-as-i-ve-ever-been-i-felt-like-i/) [Lleyton Hewitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lleyton-hewitt/) ## More by Mardy Fish > [I realize there are a lot of people putting in a lot of time and effort for me, and I want to do well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/i-realize-there-are-a-lot-of-people-putting-in-a-lot-of-time-and/) [Mardy Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/) > [I learned that I had the willpower and ability to reshape my body and my lifestyle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/i-learned-that-i-had-the-willpower-and-ability-to-reshape-my-body-and/) [Mardy Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/) > [It's been well chronicled that I've had a lot of losses in finals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/it-s-been-well-chronicled-that-i-ve-had-a-lot-of-losses-in-finals/) [Mardy Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/) > [I do want to play again. I'm just not sure if I'll be able to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/i-do-want-to-play-again-i-m-just-not-sure-if-i-ll-be-able-to/) [Mardy Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/) > [A lot of it is maturity and getting older. You know, sort of getting married and realizing you're not out there for yourself anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/a-lot-of-it-is-maturity-and-getting-older-you-know-sort-of-getting/) [Mardy Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/) > [I used to be very hard on myself at times - a lot of times, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/i-used-to-be-very-hard-on-myself-at-times-a-lot-of-times-really/) [Mardy Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/) > [Physically, I definitely needed to change some things, get fit and get in position where I could be consistent without injury, and I've put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/physically-i-definitely-needed-to-change-some-things-get-fit-and-get/) [Mardy Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/) > [You can't play this game without being fit, and without being mentally fit and ready.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/you-can-t-play-this-game-without-being-fit-and-without-being-mentally/) [Mardy Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/) > [There are certain circumstances where I feel a little unlucky or why did this happen to me but I'm sort of transitioning from that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/there-are-certain-circumstances-where-i-feel-a-little-unlucky-or-why/) [Mardy Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/) > [Try to do some cool things while you can because it's not going to last too long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/try-to-do-some-cool-things-while-you-can-because-it-s-not-going-to/) [Mardy Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/) > [I'm open to talking about what I've been through with my anxiety disorder and my mental health struggles to try and help other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/i-m-open-to-talking-about-what-i-ve-been-through-with-my-anxiety/) [Mardy Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/) > [In those years between 2010 and 2012, I was so consistent, not only on all surfaces, but just in terms of entering a tournament…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/in-those-years-between-2010-and-2012-i-was-so-consistent-not-only-on/) [Mardy Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/) > [As a captain, you don't have to worry about playing well, or recovering, or injury. As captain, you know the match is in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/as-a-captain-you-don-t-have-to-worry-about-playing-well-or-recovering/) [Mardy Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/) > [If anyone reads about my story, and says, 'Look, there's a guy that struggled with a lot of stuff that I am dealing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/if-anyone-reads-about-my-story-and-says-look-there-s-a-guy-that/) [Mardy Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/) > [I had trained myself to show no weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/i-had-trained-myself-to-show-no-weakness/) [Mardy Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/) [Explore all 102 Mardy Fish quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/) ## More Mentally quotes > [“The fear of not living is a deep, abiding dread of watching your own potential decompose into irredeemable disappointment when “should be” gets crushed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-shusterman/the-fear-of-not-living-is-a-deep-abiding-dread-of-watching-your-own/) [Neal Shusterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-shusterman/) > [When you're struggling, especially mentally, it's only the team who can bring you out of that situation. It's not one or two players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/when-you-re-struggling-especially-mentally-it-s-only-the-team-who-can/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Mentally, my brain was hopping as wildly as a sugared-up squirrel,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-white-glaser/mentally-my-brain-was-hopping-as-wildly-as-a-sugared-up-squirrel/) Donna White Glaser > [There is nothing in this world that you will need that you can't give yourself physically, mentally,emotionally, financially etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gebru-villars/there-is-nothing-in-this-world-that-you-will-need-that-you-can-t-give/) [Gebru Villars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gebru-villars/) > [If you can be mentally stimulated by the workout and find out how to get through it, it's more fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-mcconaughey/if-you-can-be-mentally-stimulated-by-the-workout-and-find-out-how-to/) [Matthew McConaughey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-mcconaughey/) > [If I'm on my game mentally, I don't think anybody can beat me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-smith/if-i-m-on-my-game-mentally-i-don-t-think-anybody-can-beat-me/) [Anthony Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-smith/) > [“It's possible I mentally calculate the danger of being relatively drunk for the entirety of the next few weeks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-lauren/it-s-possible-i-mentally-calculate-the-danger-of-being-relatively/) [Christina Lauren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-lauren/) > [I'm able to mentally adapt to things very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-cole/i-m-able-to-mentally-adapt-to-things-very-well/) [Justin Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-cole/) > [For me, I think one of the biggest battles is mentally. You have good days, and you have bad days. Randomly, you'll feel good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-graham/for-me-i-think-one-of-the-biggest-battles-is-mentally-you-have-good/) [Jimmy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-graham/) > [I play my best football when I'm calm mentally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-kane/i-play-my-best-football-when-i-m-calm-mentally/) [Harry Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-kane/) > [I am mentally strong, but physically I'm constantly unwell. I internalise a lot of things, and if something stresses me or disturbs me, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonam-kapoor/i-am-mentally-strong-but-physically-i-m-constantly-unwell-i/) [Sonam Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonam-kapoor/) > [Running for office is similar to being a trial lawyer in a very long trial. It requires adrenaline and stamina; it requires being in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/running-for-office-is-similar-to-being-a-trial-lawyer-in-a-very-long/) [Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/) > [“When we worry, our minds jump here and there and everywhere, and we lose all power of decision. However, when we force ourselves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-we-worry-our-minds-jump-here-and-there-and-everywhere-and-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You can never get someplace physically until you've been there mentally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wade-schalles/you-can-never-get-someplace-physically-until-you-ve-been-there/) Wade Schalles > [“mentally try to add up all the things I’ve done in my life, but no clear picture emerges, nothing that will tell me what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/mentally-try-to-add-up-all-the-things-i-ve-done-in-my-life-but-no/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) Browse all 638 Mentally quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We're so trained to be 'mentally tough,' in sports.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mardy Fish" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/we-re-so-trained-to-be-mentally-tough-in-sports/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Mentally" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/we-re-so-trained-to-be-mentally-tough-in-sports/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/mardy-fish-5307_mentally_we-re-so-trained-to-be-mentally-tough-in_71153.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/mardy-fish-5307_mentally_we-re-so-trained-to-be-mentally-tough-in_71153.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acf/mardy-fish-5307_mentally_we-re-so-trained-to-be-mentally-tough-in_71153.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We're so trained to be 'mentally tough,' in sports.” — Mardy Fish", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mardy Fish", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mardy-fish/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We're so trained to be 'mentally...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/we-re-so-trained-to-be-mentally-tough-in-sports/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mardy-fish/we-re-so-trained-to-be-mentally-tough-in-sports/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```