NEW DELHI: The Olympics are a prime example of how human excellence and human fortitude are frequently closely associated.
10,500 athletes, including 117 from India, will compete for just 329 medals in the Paris Games, which get underway on Friday.
It goes without saying that skill will not determine who places first on the podium. It will ultimately come down to the discipline of the mind and how it can be used to handle the grandeur and pressure of the major occasions.
Among the strategies that are frequently discussed are visualization, tuning out distractions, and maintaining focus.However, are these as simple to use in a highly competitive setting?
“There is a lot of pressure (already) in sports and when you compete at the Olympics, you have to be someone who has gone through a lot of highs and lows as well,” explains Dr Divya Jain, a sports psychologist with Fortis Healthcare.
“In sports, you’re confronted with winning and losing on a day-to-day basis, so it’s not about winning every time; it’s about how you recover, how quickly you bounce back from a mistake,” she said while explaining the difference between Olympians and other athletes.
“There is public scrutiny, staying away from family, the noise of the Games… All of these are aspects that athletes have to cope with at a psychological level,” she added, according to PTI.
Athletes will strive to be at the top of their game over the next few weeks. They have prepared both physically and intellectually to accomplish that, but the medal winners will be the ones who are just a little bit more determined and focused than the others.
“Not only do they have their own high expectations, but they also carry the hopes of their entire country and scrutiny of a global audience,” says Keerthana Swaminathan, a sports psychologist and president of the Indian Sport Psychologists Association.
“Being away from families, friends and home is a part of sportspersons’ lives but in Olympics, with all eyes on them, it could lead to further stress and anxiety.
“Olympians often have to deal with extensive travel and long periods away from family and friends, which can be really isolating. This combination can take a serious toll on their mental health, making it crucial for them to have strong support systems and access to mental health resources,” she adds.
Additionally, a first-of-its-kind specialized medical team, including wellness specialists and a sleep scientist in addition to standard medical professionals, is traveling with the delegation to ensure that Indian players have more peace of mind.
“Representing and competing for one’s country can instill a deep sense of responsibility and pride but that also adds an additional layer of pressure as athletes at the Olympics often feel that they are competing for national glory,” says Dr Nanaki J Chadha, a Sport and Performance Psychologist.
Every athlete should learn how to manage distractions since it helps to concentrate on the “here and now.”
“It’s also about being able to harness that pressure because it’s natural for anyone to be in a high-stress situation, to have certain responses to that pressure. Your heart rate may increase, muscle tension may change, your rhythm may change,” explains Dr Divya Jain.
“So you need to train yourself to work through that pressure and also to harness that pressure to help do better, actually become stronger, (to) have more explosive movement, recognising that that’s the body we are preparing, rather than clearing that kind of competition situation,” she explains.
India’s first individual Olympic gold medallist, Abhinav Bindra, has often emphasised the importance of mental health to an athlete’s total competitive readiness. Before the Beijing final, Bindra frequently spoke candidly about his personal difficulties.
What separates an Olympic medallist from others?
“Medallists have an extraordinary ability to maintain unshakeable focus and concentration, even in the most intense situations,” Keerthana says.
“They can block out distractions – whether it’s the noise of the crowd, the pressure of the moment, or the actions of their competitors – and stay entirely present in their performance,” she adds.
Bindra and a few other prominent Indian athletes have also frequently brought attention to this. Another crucial component is having self-assurance and being adaptable to last-minute changes.
“They trust in their training, abilities and preparation, which helps them take risks when necessary and push their limits without fear of failure. This self-assurance also acts as a buffer against the pressure and expectations they face, enabling them to perform at their peak,” Keerthana says.
According to Dr. Nanaki, champions also have a tendency to maintain their concentration throughout the tournament.
“Medalists often possess superior mental resilience, allowing them to perform under pressure and that also helps them recover quickly from setbacks. Now, throughout the competition, the ability to maintain focus and concentration is extremely crucial,” she says.
10,500 athletes, including 117 from India, will compete for just 329 medals in the Paris Games, which get underway on Friday.
It goes without saying that skill will not determine who places first on the podium. It will ultimately come down to the discipline of the mind and how it can be used to handle the grandeur and pressure of the major occasions.
Among the strategies that are frequently discussed are visualization, tuning out distractions, and maintaining focus.However, are these as simple to use in a highly competitive setting?
“There is a lot of pressure (already) in sports and when you compete at the Olympics, you have to be someone who has gone through a lot of highs and lows as well,” explains Dr Divya Jain, a sports psychologist with Fortis Healthcare.
“In sports, you’re confronted with winning and losing on a day-to-day basis, so it’s not about winning every time; it’s about how you recover, how quickly you bounce back from a mistake,” she said while explaining the difference between Olympians and other athletes.
“There is public scrutiny, staying away from family, the noise of the Games… All of these are aspects that athletes have to cope with at a psychological level,” she added, according to PTI.
Athletes will strive to be at the top of their game over the next few weeks. They have prepared both physically and intellectually to accomplish that, but the medal winners will be the ones who are just a little bit more determined and focused than the others.
“Not only do they have their own high expectations, but they also carry the hopes of their entire country and scrutiny of a global audience,” says Keerthana Swaminathan, a sports psychologist and president of the Indian Sport Psychologists Association.
“Being away from families, friends and home is a part of sportspersons’ lives but in Olympics, with all eyes on them, it could lead to further stress and anxiety.
“Olympians often have to deal with extensive travel and long periods away from family and friends, which can be really isolating. This combination can take a serious toll on their mental health, making it crucial for them to have strong support systems and access to mental health resources,” she adds.
Additionally, a first-of-its-kind specialized medical team, including wellness specialists and a sleep scientist in addition to standard medical professionals, is traveling with the delegation to ensure that Indian players have more peace of mind.
“Representing and competing for one’s country can instill a deep sense of responsibility and pride but that also adds an additional layer of pressure as athletes at the Olympics often feel that they are competing for national glory,” says Dr Nanaki J Chadha, a Sport and Performance Psychologist.
Every athlete should learn how to manage distractions since it helps to concentrate on the “here and now.”
“It’s also about being able to harness that pressure because it’s natural for anyone to be in a high-stress situation, to have certain responses to that pressure. Your heart rate may increase, muscle tension may change, your rhythm may change,” explains Dr Divya Jain.
“So you need to train yourself to work through that pressure and also to harness that pressure to help do better, actually become stronger, (to) have more explosive movement, recognising that that’s the body we are preparing, rather than clearing that kind of competition situation,” she explains.
India’s first individual Olympic gold medallist, Abhinav Bindra, has often emphasised the importance of mental health to an athlete’s total competitive readiness. Before the Beijing final, Bindra frequently spoke candidly about his personal difficulties.
What separates an Olympic medallist from others?
“Medallists have an extraordinary ability to maintain unshakeable focus and concentration, even in the most intense situations,” Keerthana says.
“They can block out distractions – whether it’s the noise of the crowd, the pressure of the moment, or the actions of their competitors – and stay entirely present in their performance,” she adds.
Bindra and a few other prominent Indian athletes have also frequently brought attention to this. Another crucial component is having self-assurance and being adaptable to last-minute changes.
“They trust in their training, abilities and preparation, which helps them take risks when necessary and push their limits without fear of failure. This self-assurance also acts as a buffer against the pressure and expectations they face, enabling them to perform at their peak,” Keerthana says.
According to Dr. Nanaki, champions also have a tendency to maintain their concentration throughout the tournament.
“Medalists often possess superior mental resilience, allowing them to perform under pressure and that also helps them recover quickly from setbacks. Now, throughout the competition, the ability to maintain focus and concentration is extremely crucial,” she says.
#Paris #Olympics #Focus #mental #strength #athletes #set #compete #medals #Paris #Olympics #News #Times #India
