I’ve supported athletes at every level of elite sport—from NBA and top European league professionals to national team athletes,coaches, and Olympic champions, Paralympic teams — helping them train their mindset and identity on and beyond the game.
When the pressure rises, it’s your inner game that makes the difference.
I’ve supported athletes at every level of elite sport—from NBA and top European league professionals to national team athletes,coaches, and Olympic champions, Paralympic teams — helping them train their mindset and identity on and beyond the game.
As a pro athlete, you’ve trained your body. You’ve mastered your skills. But when the pressure rises, it’s your inner game that makes the difference.
Most pro athletes were never taught how to manage these moments. Without the right tools, hesitation, self-doubt, and fear take over — blocking your true potential.
I teach athletes how to reprogram their mind to quickly reset, refocus, and perform at their best no matter what happens in the game.
I help athletes train their mind to stay calm, confident, and in control under pressure, turning emotion into focused energy.
I guide athletes to redefine their identity and build a clear, confident path beyond sport using the same mindset tools that drive peak performance.
That’s why I created Mindset Fitness — mental conditioning that strengthens the muscles no one ever coached.
Real stories from real clients who turned mindset shifts into game-changing results.
“Working with Kerdu gave me practical tools to stay focused under pressure and manage challenging situations with more confidence. The techniques helped me strengthen a key weakness—something that now supports me daily in my current role. I highly recommend her to anyone in a high-performance environment.”
"Working with Kerdu has been a game-changer for me. I’ve always kept my emotions bottled up and often pushed them aside, but through her Mindset Fitness approach, I’ve learned how to shift out of negative states quickly and move on from mistakes. After a tough first half with low confidence, I used one of her techniques at halftime, reset my mindset, and came back stronger—scoring my career-high in the German Bundesliga. I now use what I learned from her in games, training, and everyday life."
“Basketball is fast-paced and full of pressure, especially for coaches. Kerdu’s Mindset Fitness technique helped me focus on what matters and stay calm in moments where I used to react with tension. I recommend it to every coach.”
"Kerdu’s program gave me practical tools like visualization and self-talk that made an immediate difference. I visualized scoring before a game—and did it in the first minute. I now use these techniques in every training. Even though I’d heard of them before, Kerdu helped me actually apply them with confidence."
"Working with Kerdu and learning the Mindset Fitness techniques had a real impact on me. I started taking time for myself in the mornings to slow down and focus—something I hadn’t done before. My mornings used to feel chaotic, but this simple shift brought more calm and clarity. It also became harder to dwell on negative emotions, which helped me stay more balanced throughout the day."
How a Pro Athlete Took Control of His Mind and Unlocked His Next Level
When I first connected with Artur Konontšuk in November 2024, he was already a high-level professional athlete. Playing for EWE Baskets Oldenburg in the German Bundesliga, his on-court results were strong. Yet, beneath the surface of his success, he was fighting a quiet, internal battle familiar to many top performers.
As a self-described "closed person," Artur admitted he had always defaulted to a familiar coping mechanism:
“I’m a closed person… and when it comes to emotions and feelings, I’ve always tried to push them down.”
A slow start to a game, a missed defensive rotation, a crucial turnover—and his mind would instantly tighten, sending him into a negative spiral. Artur didn't lack physical ability or skill; what he needed was a mental toolkit to control the internal dialogue. That’s where our work began.
We started by shifting his focus from analyzing emotions after the game to addressing them during the game. The first piece of his new toolkit was the STOP Technique, a fast mindset reset designed to be used in high-pressure moments on the court.
“STOP helped me understand what’s going on in my head and get out of bad emotions fast.”
Then came the moment that changed everything: a defining game where the old pattern had a chance to take hold. At halftime, Artur had only managed to score 4 points. Historically, this was the moment his mind would collapse.
Instead of spiraling, he applied the training. He reset his focus, stepped back onto the court with clarity and confidence, and found a deep state of presence. What followed was a stunning display: he scored 26 points in the second half, setting a new personal Bundesliga scoring record. This wasn't a physical boost; it was a pure mindset breakthrough.
As Artur’s emotional control solidified, we went deeper, tackling the root of long-term stability: his athletic identity.
“I doubted myself a lot. I wasn’t sure if I was capable of playing at this level. Now I come out of those thoughts faster.”
He began to replace self-doubt with fundamental stability. Overthinking gave way to radical trust in his preparation. Volatile emotional swings were replaced by deep-seated composure. His mindset didn’t just improve—it underwent a complete transformation.
This new foundation quickly translated to the highest levels of competition.
With the Estonian National Team in EuroBasket 2025, Artur delivered consistently, playing heavy minutes and averaging 11.4 points per game, including a standout 20-point performance against Portugal.
Soon after, this elevated stability paved the way for a major career move: signing with Bursaspor in the Turkish Super League. In one of Europe's toughest leagues, he provided reliable, consistent performances in the Basketball Champions League and was recognized as the MVP of the Round in the Turkish league.
“I’m more balanced, emotionally more stable, calmer. Stability is what shows level and class.”
Artur's success is a testament to the power of commitment to the inner work.
“The brain is a muscle — you can train it. And then it becomes a habit.”
Artur Konontšuk chose to confront the part of the game most athletes avoid—the mental battle. By committing to the inner work, he stepped into the identity of the composed, high-performing athlete he always had the potential to be.
Today, Artur plays with unwavering clarity, presence, and trust. He can reset instantly, trust his abilities completely, and perform consistently, regardless of the pressure.
His story proves what happens when a professional athlete learns to win from within.
“I doubted myself a lot. I wasn’t sure if I was capable of playing at this level.
Now I come out of those thoughts faster.”
Every pro athlete has a strength coach. Few ever train their inner game.
With Mindset Fitness, you’ll reprogram your habits and responses so your best performance becomes your default — not frustration, hesitation, or doubt. Find out which program is right for you — Book a Free Discovery Call
I contribute articles for Brainz magazine that help athletes and high performers master identity, mindset, and transition. My pieces explore confidence-building, emotional regulation, and leadership—on and beyond the game.
When my basketball career ended, I didn’t just lose a schedule, I lost a sense of who I was. For years, every day had purpose, early practices, long travels, and that fire before every game.
When I walked into the arena at EuroBasket 2025, the energy was electric. I was there to cheer for Estonia and to support one of my clients on the national team. From the stands, I could feel the pressure…
Behind every championship ring or final whistle, there’s a quieter voice narrating what it all means. As a former pro athlete, I know this firsthand. I trained for years to perform at the highest level…
Behind every game-day highlight, there’s a deeper story. In previous articles, I’ve written about how self-handicapping, fear, and emotional habits quietly shape the choices of high performers, especially athletes.
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Athlete Transition Coach | Founder: Mindset Fitness & Athletepreneurs | Neuroencoding Specialist | Keynote Speaker | Brainz Magazine Contributor | Helping pro athletes master identity & confidence
Copyright © 2025 Kerdu Lenear