“It is very important that you believe in yourself and have confidence in your abilities.”
— Sabina Altynbekova
Sabina Altynbekova, from interviews during her career. Said in the context of the attention and pressure she faced from a young age at international competitions.
I remember standing on the court during my first major international tournament when I was seventeen years old. The lights were bright, and thousands of eyes were watching me. Many of them were not watching the volleyball. I had to decide: let that noise distract me, or focus on the game I trained for since I was fourteen. I chose the game. Whatever pressure you face from the outside, what matters is what you believe about yourself on the inside. That belief is yours alone.