The most decorated athlete in Olympic history, swimmer Michael Phelps has always emphasized the importance of "internal dialogue" in his quest for perfection, helping him visualize each step of his race and stay focused. But what exactly is internal dialogue? The latest issue of French scientific magazine "Sport et Vie" features an article on this topic, popularized by sports psychologists to refer to the thoughts we verbalize mentally or out loud. The scientific publication informs us that "This dialogue relies on three main mechanisms: self-instruction, which allows us to give ourselves clear instructions; self-reinforcement, which consists of encouraging ourselves; and cognitive restructuring, which transforms limiting thoughts into helpful ones". Internal dialogue can also take the form of a gesture or action that promotes immediate concentration. This is particularly the case when an attacker takes a penalty: he places his ball as he usually does, then makes his routine run-up, to achieve the best possible level of concentration.