by Mike McGreary at Singularity Hub: Participating in the Olympic Games is a rare achievement, and the pressures and stressors that come with it are unique. Whether an athlete is battling to win the breaststroke or powering their way to gold in the modern pentathlon, psychology will play a vital role in their success or failure in Paris this summer.
In recent Olympics, we have seen the mental toll that competing at the highest level can have on athletes. US gymnast Simone Biles withdrew from five events at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to protect her mental health, and 23-time gold medal winner Michael Phelps has described the mental crash that hits him after competing in the Games.
When even small errors can cost them a medal, how do athletes use psychological principles to master their minds and perform under pressure?
Resilience
The ability to recover from setbacks, such as disappointing performances or injury is crucial. The role of mental processes and behavior such as emotional regulation (recognizing and controlling emotions such as anxiety) allows Olympians to maintain focus and determination amid the global scrutiny that comes with competing on the world’s biggest stage.
Resilience is not a fixed trait but rather a dynamic process that evolves through an interplay between individual characteristics, such as personality and psychological skills, and environment, such as an athlete’s social support. A 2012 study made in the UK investigating resilience in Olympic champions highlighted that a range of psychological factors such as positive personality, motivation, confidence, and focus as well feeling like they have social support helped to protect athletes from the potential negative stressors caused by competing in the Olympics. These factors helped to increase an athlete’s resilience and the likelihood they would perform at their best.
Social support means that athletes don’t have to feel like they are going it alone. If they can call on strong networks of family, friends, and coaches, it provides them with additional emotional strength and motivation.
Resilience empowers Olympians to draw upon individual skills and traits and protects them from the negative effects of stressors that inevitably come with competing in the Olympics. For example, a rower may need to solve problems such as changing weather conditions. Resilience allows them to maintain composure and adjust to the conditions, for instance by modifying their stroke technique.
Being Present
Staying in the present can help athletes avoid being overwhelmed or consumed by the significance of their event or distracted by the disappointment of past failures and the pressure of high medal expectations.
To help them remain in the present moment, athletes may use a variety of strategies. Mindfulness-based meditation and breathing exercises can help athletes feel calm and focused. They may also use performance visualization to rehearse specific movements or routines. Think of a basketball player visualizing a free-throw shot.
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