- It is assumed that elite athletes from different disciplines have emerged only after overcoming some of the toughest challenges one can encounter. We are aware of how extraordinary sportsmen/women must endure grueling training, sacrifices, determined focus, attention, and dedication to reach the top tier of recognition in the world of sports. Not for nothing such sporting personalities are considered top-notch and prepared to take on the best the world arena has to offer. Needless to mention, that extra always separates the ordinary from the extraordinary. There is no shortcut to success and as the saying goes, one cannot expect a free lunch since success only embraces those who are prepared to go through the grind. No questions asked.
PC: Hindustan Times
- The world of sports has witnessed some of the most decorated, recognized, and feted sporting personalities who could provide a great amount of inspiration for everyone from different walks of life. Agreed, to reach the top tier of sporting glory, every athlete must not only be endowed with supreme talent, skills, and more but also work diligently to build up physical aspects to sustain the rigmarole of a pressure-filled competitive field. The moot point to ponder over here is how important it is to develop strong mental faculties to overcome the challenges encountered by top athletes. Mind you, one cannot become a proven success unless blessed with the strong mental strength to overcome diverse challenges. But challenges on the mental front are emerging of late.
- As such, elite athletes’ mental health deserves more attention than it usually gets. The Paris Olympics was a reminder of that. With curtains coming down on the Games, there’s much analysis about the performance of Indian athletes. But one aspect of the Games that has changed over the years is the extreme scrutiny of athletes via social media. India’s Avinash Sable, who represented the country in the 3000m steeplechase at Paris, recently highlighted social media abuse as having a big impact on athletes’ well-being. Being a high-performance athlete requires considerable mental fortitude. But the mental health aspect of sports is only just getting recognized. The issue came to prominence at the Tokyo Games courtesy of US champion gymnast Simone Biles.
PC: The Indian Express
- Biles pulled out of multiple events citing a case of twisties – a temporary loss of spatial awareness. For Paris, a psychiatrist and a sports psychologist accompanied the Indian Olympic contingent for the very first time. While sports psychologists have been part of the training of elite athletes for a while, the focus till now has been on performance enhancement. It was only after the pandemic-hit Tokyo Games that the overall mental well-being of athletes became a priority. Elite athletes need more systemic support to ensure their mental well-being. When the mind and the body are in top gear, the beauty of supreme athleticism comes to the fore showcasing what human endurance can achieve in the most competitive field of sports.
