Why Mental Training Matters as Much as Physical Training — Dora Kurimay

In this episode of Founders Future, host Zach Young sits down with Dora Kurimay, a mental performance consultant, former U.S. Open table tennis champion, and sports psychology expert who helps athletes and high performers master their inner game.Dora shares her journey from competing at the highest levels of international table tennis—including representing Hungary’s national team—to earning advanced degrees in psychology and sports psychology in the United States. Drawing from both lived competitive experience and academic training, Dora explains why mental skills are just as critical as physical training—and how the mind, like the body, must be trained consistently.The conversation explores Dora’s personalized coaching approach, where she works one-on-one with athletes, parents, and executives to build confidence, emotional control, focus, and resilience under pressure. She breaks down the most common challenges athletes face—performing well in practice but struggling in competition, confidence issues, distraction, motivation, and the growing impact of social media on young athletes.Zach and Dora also discuss the business side of performance coaching: working with parents and coaches, packaging sessions into structured programs, using social media and partnerships for growth, and expanding into new projects—including mental toolkits for injured athletes, parent-focused education, and collaborations that help athletes leverage social media for recruitment.This episode is a must-listen for athletes, parents, coaches, and founders who want to understand how mastering the mental game leads to better performance—not just in sport, but in life.