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There’s no denying music and sport go hand in hand. Whether it be en-route to the match as a fan, or in the dressing room before a big race, music can play a huge part in psyching yourself up, calming yourself down, and being mentally prepared for becoming a champion.
Of course, you’ve all seen the movies to know this, but what about the real athletes? The athletes that actually take on real-life Clubber Lang, or go up against the odds as a developing tropical nation in the Winter Olympics and leave heroes?
We take a look at some of the athletes to feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, and take a look at exactly what is inspiring them to victory.
England Cricket Team
Welcoming the England cricket team onto the pitch since 2003, the hymn Jerusalem helped inspire Michael Vaughan and his Ashes heroes to victory in 2005, recording the nation’s first series victory of the Australians for 18 years.
Captain Vaughan, rallied fans to sing the famous song as the players entered the field of play on the first day of the final test claiming, “the thought of having the whole country singing a song as emotive as Jerusalem is something that will get the boys stirred up just as we come on to the field.”
And it worked, just five days later, inspired by a superb Kevin Pietersen, England would go on to lift the prestigious urn.
Michael Phelps
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9DeWQ7dNPE
Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time. We want to know what he eats, drinks, and has on his iPod. It turns out the 18-time gold medallist enjoys putting his headphones in and listening to rap music.
During the Beijing games, Phelps revealed I’m Me by Lil Wayne was at the top of his playlist stating, “Just the name of the song made sense to me, given where I’m at right now, and how I felt at these Games.”
Although the inspiration was mutual with the Grammy winner recording I’m A Go Getta dedicated to the legendary swimmer.
Liverpool FC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV5_LQArLa0
It’s perhaps the most iconic song in sport. Wherever Liverpool FC travel a chorus of fans sings it – and a Reds team responds. Adopted by fans in the early 1960s after Merseybeat band Gerry and the Pacemakers sang, it was presented to manager Bill Shankly who was in awe of the song, alongside every coach ever since. This couldn’t be more evident than during the 2005 Champions League final.
Steven Gerrard, captain of the side said, “You’re three nil down. You think your dream is in tatters, you’re waiting for the half time whistle, waiting for a chorus of boos. You’ve let them down, you’ve let yourself down.
“You’ve been totally played off the park for 45 minutes. And then you hear the chorus of You’ll never walk Alone, probably the loudest and most emotional rendition I’ve ever heard as a player.”
Liverpool went on to lift the trophy in what was arguably the greatest comeback of all time.
Gus Hansen
During the height of former Full Tilt Pro Gus Hansen’s career, the Great Dane spent much of his time listening to the Rolling Stones while picking up top spot in the 2007 Aussie Millions Main Event and over $200,000 in World Series of Poker events. Of course how can you not feel inspired by the band that have sold over 250 million albums and produced some of the greatest albums of all time?
Usain Bolt
Usain Bolt is just about the coolest athlete in the world. He’s unbeatable on the track, and loves nothing more than getting on the decks. But what happens when he combines the two? A mix of reggae and rap is what.
His workout playlist is heavily routed in the Caribbean with Rihanna
, Sean Paul, and Bob Marley heavily featuring, whilst he hails Junior Reid as another favourite whilst getting prepared to go and break another world record.