The Teddies Review - Dec 2021

sport. Without the correct training, and without a high level of fitness, it is hard to succeed. However, both can be worked on and improved through scientific knowledge about how best to push your body to the limits. For example, nutrition is a large factor in becoming successful, as it is essential to fuel the demands high training puts on the body. Good nutrition provides athletes with enough energy and nutrients to help them perform at an optimum level. In order to best appreciate why mental and physical factors are important for an athlete to succeed in sport consider the small differences. Everyone (especially at the professional level) has great sporting ability, but it is their mindset that will set them apart. A prime example of this was Kobe Bryant. After going through a tough year in his basketball career, he created an alter ego mentality known as the ‘Black Mamba.’ This Mamba mentality simply meant that he had to get better at everything he was doing. Even though his base ability separated him from an ordinary basketball player, it was his mental approach to his career that made him go that bit further. It’s a co mplicated relationship. On the one hand, whilst the mind is important, without extreme physicality, nutrition and knowledge it is impossible to succeed. But it’s also true that an athlete can have all the correct nutrition, the coaching, and sports scientific knowledge to help to, physiologically, become a great athlete - but this alone is not enough to become the best of the best without a growth mindset By Connie Jones and Lila Howard The difference between good and great

Bestselling Novels of 2021

Want to find out what the rest of the (reading) world have been up to this year? Well, here are the five biggest selling fiction books of 2021 in the UK.

1. The Midnight Library – Matt Haig

A charming and heart-warming book following Nora Seed who’s given the opportunity to undo all her bad decisions. What would you do?

2. The Thursday Murder Club - Richard Osman

Gripping and breakaway. Chances are you’ll know someone who’s got this. Hugely readable, witty, and a great murder mystery of the old school Christie style.

3. Where the Crawdads Sing – Delia Owens

A tragic and emotional story set in the early 70s North Carolina. Stunningly written on nature and relationships, and brilliant character studies throughout.

4. The Man Who Died Twice – Richard Osman

More Osman, who’s had a great year. The hard follow-up novel is nothing of the sort for Osman. More of the same, more of the brilliance.

5. Hamnet – Maggie O’Farrell

A tapestry of short stories woven together into a collage of Tudor England. Shakespeare, but written by the women all around.