Matthew Syed | Beckham, McIlroy & the Mindset of Elite Performers

Nov 25, 2025

In this conversation, Matthew Syed, a former Olympian and acclaimed author on performance psychology, shares powerful insights from his athletic journey. He reflects on the critical role of his childhood coach in shaping his mindset and the importance of nurturing authentic relationships in sports. Matthew vividly recounts his Olympic choking experience, exploring how pressure affects performance. He discusses the value of graciousness in both victory and defeat and highlights lessons from icons like Beckham and McIlroy, emphasizing resilience and growth.

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ANECDOTE

Life-Changing Primary School Coach

Matthew Syed credits primary school teacher Peter Charters for shaping his table-tennis career and mindset.
Charters created a caring, individualised culture that turned a local club into a talent hub.

INSIGHT

Greatness Is A System, Not A Solo Act

Success rarely belongs to a single person and typically emerges from a supportive system.
Mentors, family and ecosystem factors are often the real engines behind top performers.

ANECDOTE

From Athlete To Times Columnist

Syed describes how retirement from sport forced him to reinvent and led him to write for The Times.
A freelance column became a lifeline that launched his writing and broadcasting career.

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This week on Performance People, Georgie is joined by writer, broadcaster and former Olympian Matthew Syed; one of the most influential thinkers on high performance today. In a conversation that moves from table-tennis halls in suburban Reading to global sporting icons, Matthew unpacks the moments and mentors that shaped his life, and the ideas that continue to guide his work.

He reflects on the remarkable influence of his childhood coach, Peter Charters, and how the culture of curiosity, individuality and care that Charters created became the foundation for Matthew’s career in sport, and beyond. Matthew also opens up about the pressure of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, describing in powerful detail the moment he “choked”, why it happened, and how it sparked a lifelong fascination with performance psychology.

From David Beckham’s resilience and Rory McIlroy’s Masters triumph to the importance of losing with grace, the conversation explores why elite sport is a microcosm of character, humility and growth. Matthew shows how these lessons translate into everyday life, for parents, leaders, young people and anyone striving to improve.

In classic Syed style, this is a masterclass in mindset: honest, generous and packed with ideas you’ll want to take straight into your own world.

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The Performance People podcast, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.

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The opinions expressed in this episode are those of the guests and hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views of ainslie + ainslie, J.P. Morgan, or Gameface Limited.

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