Mariafe Artacho del Solar does not need to look far for Olympic inspiration when she wakes up each morning.
The SA-based beach volleyball gun, half of Australia’s world No. 5 pairing alongside Taliqua Clancy, has a printout of a gold medal hanging beside her bed.
As the countdown to the Tokyo Games reached 200 days this week, del Solar said the picture kept her focused on the ultimate goal after a testing six months.
“Every time I wake up, that medal is hanging right in front of me,” del Solar, 26, said.
“I’m a sucker for visualisation – I think it’s a powerful thing.
“I visualise ourselves on the podium at the Olympics celebrating and it just gives me goosebumps.
“I live that moment every day and that’s kind of a part of my training.