The psychology of Olympians and how they master their minds to perform

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 visualisation to rehearse specific movements or routines. Think of a basketball player visualising a free throw shot.

Similarly, many athletes will have well-rehearsed pre-performance routines which can create a sense of normality and control. For example, a tennis player may bounce the ball a certain number of times before serving. Staying in the present will help to reduce athletes' anxiety, maintain focus on the task and allow them to fully experience (and hopefully enjoy) the atmosphere.

Protecting their mental wellbeing

Failure can be devastating and athletes can have complicated relationships with winning. For example, some athletes experience post-Olympic blues, which is often described as the feeling of emptiness, loss of self-worth and even depression following an Olympic Games, even if the athlete has won a medal. British cyclist Victoria Pendleton wrote for The Telegraph in 2016 describing this phenomenon: “It’s almost easier to come second because you have something to aim for when you finish. When you win, you suddenly feel lost”.

Olympians may be champions, but like the rest of us they need to prioritise the fundamentals such as getting adequate sleep and downtime to recharge mentally. An Australian study  conducted in 2020 highlighted the relationship between maintaining mental well-being and increased athletic performance. To ensure this, Olympians work closely with support staff such as performance nutritionists who ensure they have a balanced diet which meets the physical needs of their event, helping to protect both physical and mental health.

They also work with sport and exercise psychologists throughout their training in preparation for the Olympics to manage challenges as and when they experience them. If an athlete starts struggling with performance anxiety ahead of the Games, they may practice mindfulness or cognitive restructuring, which are techniques that help people to notice and change negative thinking patterns.

Olympians and their support team need to take care of both the person and the athlete to protect their wellbeing. When they protect their wellbeing they are offering the best chance of both achieving their best performance during the Games themselves and avoiding the post-Olympic blues when they are over. DM 

This story was first published in The Conversation. Mike McGreary is a Programme Lead and Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Keele University.