Fighting for your dream
- publish258
- Sep 18
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 29
No matter how long they take, dreams are worth pursuing, says former Dragons’ Den star in foreword to Novaro book
At the top level, performance is as much as about the mental and emotional as the technical. The winners are those who master themselves and find the strength of mind to handle the pressure when it all really matters.
After repeated failures to realise his dream of reaching the Olympics, Alex Tofalides has learnt what it takes the hard way. For nine years, he was part of British Fencing’s elite programme, before switching to Cyprus and becoming his own performance director, responsible for every last technical, physical, mental and emotional detail.
Last year, he found himself one fight away from Paris 2024. In this compelling account written for anyone looking to develop the mental strength to realise their dream and write their own story, he recounts how he was able to synchronise the technical, the analytical and the emotional to perform under the ultimate pressure.
For Theo Paphitis, retail magnate and former Dragons’ Den panellist, Alex’s story is proof that ‘dreams are worth pursuing, no matter how long they take or how many obstacles lie in the way. I hope his words inspire you, as they have inspired me, to think strategically, to believe fiercely and, above all, to never give up.’
Over time, Alex built an approach grounded in courage, honesty and a determination to keep learning, says Katie Warriner, a performance psychologist to winners of Olympic gold with Team GB. ‘Fighting for Your Dream captures that journey brilliantly and I’d recommend it to athletes, coaches and anyone striving to perform at their best.'
Alex’s fellow Olympian from Cyprus, Pavlos Kontides, a sailor who has won two medals himself, says that Alex will take you on ‘a journey filled with passion, sacrifice and unshakeable belief. This book is a true inspiration for athletes and non-athletes alike.’
At Helios Investment Partners, Babatunde Soyoye comments: ‘Alex distils the hard-won lessons of his 20-year quest to become Cyprus’s first Olympic fencer into principles that resonate deeply with me as an investor and leader. This book is a compelling reminder that performance under pressure is both an art and a discipline.’
• 'Fighting for your Dream: Mastering reslience and performing when it really matters’, by Alex Tofalides, Novaro Publishing, October 2025, ISBN: 978-1-0685644-2-0. See here for details.
