Athletes at the Olympic level don’t just undergo intense physical training. According to a WVU certified mental performance specialist, they often benefit from training to achieve psychological flexibility under pressure as well. (WVU Photo/Michael Carvelli)
Olympians train for years to strengthen muscle and sharpen technique, but a West Virginia University graduate student and certified mental performance consultant says the difference between reaching the podium and disappointment may come down to mastering their minds.
Luca Ziegler, a graduate student in sport, exercise and performance psychology and clinical mental health counseling at the WVU College of Applied Human Sciences, said athletes have to stay open, aware and engaged under pressure, whether they’re competing on the world stage or in a local match. That psychological flexibility helps shape their performance.
Quotes:
“Psychological flexibility is the ability to do what is most meaningful to us, even in the presence of unpleasant feelings. For athletes like Olympians, that means playing their sport the way they want to, even when pressure or anxiety arise.
“Psychological flexibility helps athletes stop wasting energy fighting their emotions and instead allows those feelings to be present without interfering with performance. By accepting unpleasant emotions, Olympic athletes not only perform better but are more likely to experience optimal mental states like ‘flow,’ when performance feels effortless.
“Our research shows that psychological flexibility doesn’t just happen — we have to train it. Certified mental performance consultants can help athletes and coaches through develop these skills.
“It becomes more difficult to be psychologically flexible when emotions run high, as they do at the Olympics. The question isn’t just how big the stage is — it’s how big the stage feels to the athlete. That perception determines how challenging it will be to stay open and engaged.” — Luca Ziegler, graduate student, WVU College of Applied Human Sciences
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