The Wall of Hypnotic Fame
Olympic and world champions, Oscar winners and Hall of Famers who trained their minds with hypnosis. Every name comes with its proof: their own words, or at least two independent published sources. Tap a source to check it yourself. If we could not prove it, it is not on this wall.
Started at 12
Jay Brunza, a Navy psychologist who caddied for him as an amateur, trained his concentration through hypnosis and self-hypnosis, long before the majors.
ProofGolf Digest (age 12)
Cigar Aficionado, June 27, 2008
Publishers Weekly, 2002
Kirkus Reviews, Feb 1, 2002
Golf.com, Jan 25, 2019
Two-time Olympic champion, 2026
She shattered her leg in April 2025 and used hypnosis through ten months of recovery. In February 2026 she won two Olympic golds at Milano Cortina. She had worked with hypnosis since before the 2022 Games.
“Many people helped me, including with hypnosis.” — Federica Brignone, translated from Italian
ProofSky Sport Italia, Feb 16, 2026
Adnkronos, Feb 16, 2026
Il Giornale, Feb 12, 2026
Il Napolista, citing Corriere della Sera, Feb 1, 2022
Started at about 14
Under Cus D’Amato he was hypnotized regularly as a teenage fighter, from about 14 and early in his career. He has said so himself, in two separate interviews.
“They sinked all that into me when I was younger.” — Mike Tyson
ProofBleacher Report, Jan 18, 2019 (Joe Rogan)
Ambrosia For Heads, March 2020 (Snoop Dogg)
Three-time World Champion
With psychologist Willi Neumann she relived her 1999 world title under hypnosis. A few weeks later she won the 2005 world title in Helsinki, and in 2007 she won a third.
“Maybe you need a nudge like that.” — Franka Dietzsch, translated from German
Prooftaz, Aug 13, 2005
Der Spiegel 43/2007, “Im Kopf zum Sieg”
2024 World Champion
He credited a hypnotherapist during his run to the 2024 World Championship final. He began working with hypnotherapist Chris O’Connor two weeks before the tournament, and says he probably would not have won without him.
“It’s just about emptying your stress bucket.” — Kyren Wilson
Academy Award winner
Before filming Wild, the role that earned her an Oscar nomination, she had weeks of panic attacks and used hypnosis to get through them.
“I had hypnosis, I was so scared.” — Reese Witherspoon
ProofInterview Magazine, June 15, 2021
Entertainment Tonight, June 16, 2021
Hall of Fame hitter
In 1975, hypnotist Harvey Misel helped Carew play through a hamstring injury. Misel went on to work with some 200 major-league clients.
ProofSlate, July 28, 2006
Chicago Sun-Times, July 13, 2019
SABR Biography Project, Mike Witt
BallNine, Aug 24, 2023
Academy Award winner
The Best Actress winner for The Favourite told the National Theatre she tried hypnotherapy for stage fright.
“It’s an awful feeling.” — Olivia Colman
ProofShropshire Star (PA), April 23, 2021
Castanet (WENN), April 23, 2021
Hall of Fame pitcher
Deep in a 1974 slump, he saw Los Angeles hypnotist Arthur Ellen.
“I credit Ellen for giving me back my ability to relax and pitch to my potential.” — Don Sutton, Los Angeles Times, Jan 16, 1975
ProofSABR Biography Project, by Gregory H. Wolf, quoting the Los Angeles Times
2023 European Champion
Coming back from injuries in 2016, she used hypnosis to work on self-doubt and confidence. She went on to win the 2023 European title and race at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
“I went through hypnosis; it did me good.” — Jeanne Lehair, translated from French
ProofSportMag, Oct 22, 2018
Tri247, June 5, 2023 (the European title)
2015 World Champion
The German breaststroker worked with a hypnosis coach to get into the right flow before the biggest races of his career.
“With hypnosis I can find out where there are still hidden problems.” — Marco Koch
ProofSwimSwam, via the Darmstädter Tagblatt
arena, Jan 26, 2016
Multi-platinum singer
Stage fright had started to affect her singing, so she went to a hypnotherapist.
“I went to hypnotherapy for stage fright years ago and it completely worked.” — Dido
PGA Tour winner, 2024
He started working with hypnotherapist Grace Smith a few weeks before winning the 2024 Rocket Mortgage Classic on the PGA Tour.
“I started working with a hypnotherapist a few weeks ago.” — Cam Davis
ProofNBC Sports, June 2024
Golf Digest, by Shane Ryan
Golf Channel, June 30, 2024
2015 BDO World Champion
The 2015 world champion listens to a recording from his hypnotherapist at night, the same way a client keeps a pocket session.
“He sends me a 20-minute MP3.” — Scott Mitchell
ProofThe Edinburgh Reporter, Jan 10, 2017
Red Dragon Darts, Jan 16, 2015
Rebuilt his career
Years after being dropped from the Premier League, he turned to hypnotherapist Chris O’Connor and rebuilt his game.
“I’m now seeing a hypnotherapist as well, which is really helping.” — Stephen Bunting
In his own words
He turned to hypnotherapy to fight “dartitis,” the freeze that stops a player releasing the dart.
“I was doing hypnotherapy twice a week.” — Nathan Aspinall
Back after a loss
After a 2019 loss he worked with a hypnotist and declared himself back.
“It’s not like he waves a watch in front of you.” — Eryk Anders
Eight sessions
The veteran took eight sessions of hypnotherapy with Chris O’Connor to get past dartitis.
“I thought: well, I’ve got nothing to lose!” — Kevin Painter
We’ll be here when you’re ready.
The earliest start on this wall is age 12. That is the age young drivers are racing karts and dreaming of Formula 1. The mind can be trained as early as the reflexes.
Everyone here is named as public record only, from the sources linked. None of them is affiliated with or endorses HEKA TRANCE-formations.