How can athletes prepare for a TV interview?

Understand the context before preparing your answers

Ask the journalist about the subject, format and time available. Will it be live or recorded, before the start or at the finish? A specialist audience has different reference points from viewers discovering your sport.

You may not know the questions in advance. But you can identify likely topics: preparation, results, technical decisions, objectives or fitness. The International Floorball Federation recommends thinking about your audience and possible questions before an interview.

Keep two or three ideas, not a speech

Choose two or three things you want people to understand: what you tried, what made the difference and what you take away. Prepare a fact or a simple example for each idea.

These points do not replace the journalist's question. Answer what you are asked first. If your idea adds useful context, bring it in next. If it is unrelated, save it for another moment.

Give a short answer, then let the conversation continue

Start with a direct answer. Add an explanation and, if needed, an example. Stop once the idea is clear: a pause gives the journalist room to ask a follow-up.

In training, ask someone to put three questions to you and record your answers. Check whether your first sentence actually answers the question. Identify details that slow the explanation down. You are not trying to erase your personality, but to make your thinking easy to follow.

Use words your audience understands

A technical term can be useful if you explain it. Start with what the viewer can understand or see, then add the sporting detail.

Use your everyday vocabulary. A simple, accurate sentence is better than a formal phrase. You can be precise without recounting every second of the race.

Find your bearings on camera

Ask where to look. In an interview with a journalist, generally focus on your interviewer rather than looking for the lens. When speaking directly to camera, follow the filming team's instructions.

Find a comfortable posture. Let the journalist finish the question. Taking a breath before answering can help you find a steady pace. Avoid monitoring every gesture: stay focused on the conversation.

Prepare for sensitive questions and follow-ups

Prepare for topics that could unsettle you: selection, disappointing results, conflict or injury. Distinguish what you can explain, what you do not yet know and what belongs to your private life.

You can say you do not have enough information to answer or wish to keep something private. If the question contains an inaccurate assumption, calmly correct it before answering. A follow-up can also clarify an answer: listen, then add the missing information instead of repeating your first sentence.

Common mistakes

• Learning a script word for word and losing your bearings at the first follow-up.
• Trying to include every prepared point instead of answering the question.
• Using a technical expression without giving the audience the context to understand it.

For your next interview

A successful interview is not about a perfect answer to every question. It is a conversation where your words remain understandable and true to your experience. Prepare your reference points, then leave room for dialogue.