World’s No. 1 Surf Lifesaving Athlete: The Visualisation & Mindset Training Behind Victory | Ali Day

Ali Day is one of the world’s top Ironman athletes - but this isn’t about medals. It’s about the mindset, habits, and grit that push humans past their limits. Ali breaks down the people who shaped him, the mental tools that rewired his approach, and the moments that tested him like never before.

Behind the scenes, he reveals the visualisation and hypnosis tools that changed everything—imagining entire races in brutal detail, scripting every move, and rehearsing every scenario in his mind—alongside the recovery strategies, growth lessons, and life insights that stretch far beyond sport.

In this episode, Andrew and Ali Day discuss:

2:05 – Childhood heroes that sparked a love of sport
4:25 – The 10-minute breakthrough with a sports psychologist
8:35 – Mastering imagery: mental tools that changed the game
15:20 – Swimming against the Ironman current with support from those who mattered
17:30 – Breaking both wrists and rebuilding stronger than ever
24:15 – Unlearning old habits and redefining performance identity
32:55 – Why Ironman is never an individual sport
35:50 – The unglamorous grind behind the glory
43:30 – Recovery as a science: tracking every metric
47:15 – Life beyond Ironman: business and firefighting ambitions
54:15 – Reflecting on the journey and a 10-year vision
59:10 – Sports psychologist Lisa shares her reflections

Follow Ali on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alastairday/?hl=en
Find out more about ACTV Strength Co: https://actvstrengthco.com/

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