This study aims to determine the effectiveness of a strategic self-talk training program on the mental toughness and athletic performance of Iranian national speed skating team athletes. Considering the critical role of psychological skills in elite sports, particularly in speed skating where success is often determined by fractions of a second, implementing effective psychological interventions is essential for enhancing athletes’ mental preparedness and competitive performance. This research adopts a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a control group. The statistical population consists of 50 adult male and female athletes of the Iranian national speed skating team during the 2025–2026 season, from whom 30 participants will be randomly selected and assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group will participate in a strategic self-talk training program consisting of ten 20-minute sessions, while the control group will continue their regular training without receiving any psychological intervention. Mental toughness will be assessed using the Clough Mental Toughness Questionnaire, and athletic performance will be evaluated through a researcher-developed instrument based on speed skating performance indicators. Data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in SPSS software. It is expected that strategic self-talk training will significantly improve both mental toughness and athletic performance, providing practical evidence for integrating psychological skills training into elite athletes’ preparation programs.