WITH Atlanta 96 just around the corner, a book from the woman who helped train Michael Carruth, Niall O'Toole, Michelle Smith, Wayne McCullough and Bobby O'Leary couldn't be more timely. Barcelona team psychologist Felicity Heathcote flew in from New York for the launch of her handbook Peak Performance: Zen and The Sporting Zone at the Bank of Ireland Arts Centre.
Members of the Irish paralympic team and Olympic boss Pat Hickey gave their support as Mary Harney noted that the book wasn't just for athletes as nearly everyone can maximise their potential through relaxation and meditation. She went on to say that Heathcote's approach sounded like "a nice release from the normal frenzied atmosphere in which politicians function. If only I and all my Dail colleagues could be in that zone all the time." Perish the thought.