Read the nbcnews.com article by Melissa Dahl, about the sports psychology involved in the Olympics. Pretty deep stuff… What are your thoughts about competing at such a high level? What would you do to prepare? To win, do you need to prepare for defeat?
Respond to this post with your personal reflection on the article.
Competing on high levels of sports would be fun. It would challenge you to your max. If i was going to prepare for something like that, I would constantly keep practicing on my weak points of the sport. You need to keep an open mind on if you are going to get defeated. You cant go in and be cocky all the time and expect to win it all.
ReplyDelete-Christian Vrtiska
It's sad that the athletes are worried about what their families will think if they come home empty handed. Their families should be proud of them for even making it their.
ReplyDeleteI play volleyball and I remember I used to get really upset after a loss and regret every mistake I made. I've learned to do my best and respect that even though I care, at the end of the day, it's a game. Sportsmanship is important. Olympians are under unbelievable pressure, so I think it's great that they have mental preparation and someone who understands.
ReplyDeleteI don't think i could compete at that high of a level. Too much pressure. To prepare you would need a lifetime of practice and more. But it's like if you lost you would feel horrible given that this has been your whole life. & You should always prepare for defeat but strive to win. You're not always going to win and thats okay as long as you love what you are doing.
ReplyDeleteI think it's really smart how they are going about mentally training there athletes. It's all a matter of reverse psychology. Tell them to think about losing then they'll win. A medal is after all, just a piece of metal. The athletes are still better then most people. I think thats something to be proud of.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be cool to play that high of a level but it would also be very nerve racking and I don't know if I'd be able to do it. I would have to much anxiety and once I get a bad thought or something in my head I can't get it out. Olympians have to have a lot of mental toughness as well as physical.
ReplyDeleteAthletes are held at to a higher standard in our culture. So when they compete in something so intense and competitive as the Olympics, the pressure is definitely on and you can lose what is actually important. The part where you need to accept the fact that failure is an option is very true. As a athlete when you accept the fact that you can lose, that leaves more room to actually get better and compete better.
ReplyDeletecompeting on a high level like olympians do, can be alot of pressure especially for defending champions who might even be under more stress just because of the fact people expect more from them honestly. to prepare would mean dedicating your full time to that sport. some athletes actually don't prepare for defeat and dont want that thought to even be considered.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I used to run distance I would get nervous and try not to run as fast as I could because I thought I would fail. But after years of talking to people while running I lost most of this sense. Now i never really have negative thoughts because its just fun to run. If people in the Olympics only competed to win metals they only liked winning and not the sport.(I am not responsible for my actions... BLAME THE GIANT SPACE BUTTERFLY OVERLORD)
ReplyDeleteI think It'd be very difficult to be an olympian. They have to train so hard and I couldn't imagine how hard it'd be to go home without a medal. I would prepare myself to win, and also to be okay if I lost. I believe you need to prepare to lose before you prepare to win. A mental game is the best thing in the world, because if you let someone into your head you'll lose every time. Thats why I love the quote "An angry mind is a narrow mind, You're only thinking about what you can do to other people, you're not thinking about what they can do to you." Natalie Greenig
ReplyDeleteI thought it was interesting how it explained the reason we remember things we're trying to forget is because our brain is actually try to help us forget by making sure the topic is not in the brain. And I know in a situation of having to perform in front of the whole country, the stress and worry would be magnified to an extreme degree. Even though it's hard for those olympians to convince themselves that just doing the best they can do is enough for the country and their family, that's what they have to do. At the end of the day, that's all they can do. And for anyone that might criticize or complain about their performance probably couldn't perform even half as well as people at the olympics could, so they just have to brush off what people may say.
ReplyDeleteCompeting at such a high level seems like a lot of fun, but also a lot of hard work. It's a lot of pressure, and to prepare takes hard work and dedication. It makes you work even harder, especially when you are very competitive or are a defending champion. As you think about winning you need to also prepare yourself for defeat because either can happen. You just need to be able to expect the worst or best in every situation so mentally you are prepared and know how to react. That way your not hurt or mentally defeated because you've already went through the thought of losing in your head, therefore you've prepped yourself for either outcome.
ReplyDeleteSports are a time consuming, stress causing, regret making thing that hopefully everyone has gone through but, its the things we do to prepare ourselves for the moments when it matters, if its 2mins left in the 4th and the other team is up by a touchdown. Its those 2 mins to prove what you have done to deserve the win, to take it and never give it back, but it doesn't matter what you deserve if you don't fight for it every second to never easy up or give up. My point is if you have done everything you can and gave it every ounce of energy in your body then, you and others should be proud of what you have accomplished and there is always the next game to prove who you really are and improve as long as you work for it and never suspect that the other team is going to roll over and let you take the win.
ReplyDeleteIt has to be hard on olympians while competing in something as big as the olympics. But they're there for a reason. They're good at what they do. People work better under pressure. But I agree with what the article is saying. When you try not focusing one thing, you tend to focus on it more which could be a very bad thing.
ReplyDeleteI think competition at such a high level as the olympics would be amazing. All the adrenaline and nerves before competition would be indescribable and couldn't be recreated in any other type of competition. I fell like besides practice, practice, practice, to prepare for something like that you would just have to have lots of time to yourself so that you can just think of what you are going to do and what needs to be done for you to do your best. And also so you can think of all possible scenarios so that you aren't completely shocked and devastated if things go wrong. So yeah, i think it is good to prepare for defeat as well, because just doing that, you come in with a different and more level mind set letting you focus more and ease some tension so you don't feel like the world is setting on your shoulders for you to win.
ReplyDeleteCompeting at such a high level can be very hard and stressful. You practice so hard for so long and give it your absolute best, but you don't always win like you planned. To prepare yourself, you would need to practice regularly for a certain amount of time every day. When you practice, you don't slack off either, you give it all you have to get the most out of it. You defiantly need to prepare for defeat, because if it happens and you didn't prepare for it, you're going to be shocked, and crushed. Preparing for the worst is always the best for these situations because if you win, you're surprised and you're grateful; and if you lose you're content with it, but still strive to be better. Preparing for defeat makes you work harder, and in turn you'll be rewarded for that.
ReplyDeleteThe olympians are very competitive and very hard to get into. The stuff that they teach them are very good advice. Like keeping there minds opened and not clouded is a healthy thing because that stuff can eat you from the inside.
ReplyDeleteCompeting at that high of a level can be very hard and stressful. You can want to win but not everything can go your way in life. To prepare yourself you need to practice everyday and not slack off or give up. When your scared to be defeated you want to practice more and give it an extra 10% at everything you do.
ReplyDeleteCompeting at such a high level is obviously very hard. To prepare yourself you have to practice almost 24/7 and you don't have much relax time. You definitely need to prepare yourself for defeat, because if you were expecting to win and you lose then that makes it so much harder.
ReplyDeleteCompeting at such a high level cause a lot of stress. To prepare, I would train myself physically and mentally. Mentally, you have to prepare yourself for every situation: winning and losing. In order to win, you need to prepare yourself to lose because if you don't, you will think about losing at the most stressful time and can throw you off your game. If you train yourself for defeat, you will put you in a situation where this will not throw you off.
ReplyDeleteGetting into the Olympics takes a lot of hard work and dedication so you can understand the "not losing" mentality but at the same time i think every athlete needs to prepare for what it's going to be like when they fail.
ReplyDeleteThe olympics is amazing but there is a lot of time and practice they have to do. I think it is a good idea mentally training the people. When you worked so hard to win a medal and you lose that is a sad moment. It like all of the work you did was worth nothing. It makes you work even harder, especially when you are very competitive and knowing other people won higher medals then you.
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ReplyDeleteCompeting on high levels of sports would be a once in a life time experience. It would challenge you to your max, physically and mentally and If i was going to prepare for something like that, I would constantly keep practicing on my weak points of the sport. You need to keep an open mind on if you are going to get defeated. You cant go in and with the expectation of winning all the time and when you get defeated just give up the sport~ shelby tuller
ReplyDeleteIf you compete at such a high level, you have to know that the other people there are very advanced and competitive. Everyone worked extremely hard to get there, so you have to hope for the best, but also you have to know it is possible to leave without a medal. Not only do you have to prepare for the games, but what happens after them. Whether you win or lose, you are always going to be held to a certain standard on how to accept victory, and defeat.
ReplyDeleteLosing is everyone's worst fear, but trying to suppress those thoughts will usually not work and they will come back to you full force. Trainers are now encouraging the athletes to actually think about the thought of losing. This will help the thought not come back at the most inappropriate time.
ReplyDeleteCompeting at such a high level is very difficult and can cause a lot of stress. I would train everyday until I got to the point I wanted to be at, i would have to train both my body and my mind. I will tell myself what I can do to get better, I would work hard to achieve my goal. If you have the mindset, you can do whatever you want. I think you should prepare yourself for a defeat. That way if you don't come out on top, you will just be motivated to work even harder.
ReplyDeleteFor athletes competing at such an elite level it can be very stressful. You must train and work hard. You get out of a work out, what you put into it. When competing you should always stay confident, never cocky. you need to prepare yourself for loss just in case things don't work out your way. By preparing yourself you stay humble, and if you come out with the win your happier than ever. As long as you go out there and give it your all you can never be disappointed.
ReplyDeleteI think competing at such a high level would be a make or break situation. I have such a high competitive nature that my anxiety at that level would be unreal. I am sure these athletes are in over their heads in stress. I know if it was me I would never want to disappoint my family in losing. Their sport has been most of their lives since they could probably walk. They live, eat, and breathe their sport to win. If I was preparing for the olympics I would make sure to watch as many videos of my competitors' trial runs to see my competition and then work on everything in my ability to beat them. Also I would definitely make a "what if" list to be able to possibly face defeat even though it would be hard to think about at the time .
ReplyDeleteI can't even imagine competing at that kind of level. I am a competitive person, and to lose at that level would be horribly disappointing, not to mention the fact I would be a nervous wreck the whole time which could potentially have a play in how well I perform. To prepare for that level of competition would take countless hours of practice and conditioning. My social life would be out the window for sure, and everything in my life would be concentrated on those games. It's important to keep in mind while at those competitions that everyone there is just as good or better than you at what you do, so to have in mind that losing could easily happen would be a good thing to keep with you. It would make loss slightly easier to face and would make winning that much more rewarding.
ReplyDeleteBeing an olympic athlete you train for one sprot or event that only. Knowing this you will have to do the same things over again and things that will physically push your body to its limits. The only way to keep getting better and to not plato is by pushing yourself harder than you did the day before. With knowing this if you're not mentally strong you can not succeed. By training these athletes with this mind set it is motivating them in a way that would push them to success. i agree with how these poeple are teaching them because its giving them the mind set of work harder everyday to succeed other wise somebody will beat you to it.
ReplyDeleteCompeting at an Olympic is very different than any other level because you are going against the best in the world. When you are going up against the best in the world then you may want to prepare yourself for not winning but that should not stop you from trying your hardest. I would not prepare for defeat because then you might expect defeat and not try your hardest to win.
ReplyDeleteSince the Olympics are such a high honor sports event Athletes are afraid of letting people down. I think the athletes need to focus on how they are instead of trying to impress everyone else. If they think about not winning they will try harder.
ReplyDeleteBeing in the Olympics means you have some type of talent and it takes hard work to get there. Even if you leave with nothing you in your hands you're still a winner because you made it that far, so people shouldn't take losing that hard because winning doesn't always have to be a prize or an award, it could just be a goal.
ReplyDeleteCompeting at the olympics is never going to be easy and I think everyone in the olympics has that mindset but people telling them that they are going to lose and get defeated makes them want to try harder and play the best they can so they can be the winner of that sport.
ReplyDeleteCompeting at a high level causes a lot of stress but it also pushes you to work harder. If you work harder, the stress will decrease because you're focusing on something other than the anxiety. To prepare, I would make sure that I know the components around me. I would research their weaknesses and strengths so I can compare. I believe that every athlete/ competitor should be prepared to fail. You can't be too cocky but you also can't be too timid. If you walk in with too much confidence in yourself you could be really devastated when it doesn't turn out the way you expected.
ReplyDeleteI think competing at such a high level would be extremely stressful, yet thrilling at the same time. To prepare I would just practice all the time. I would eat, sleep, drink, dream, breath whatever I was suppose to be practicing. To win, I do think you need to prepare for defeat. It's kind of like how you don't know what the good is until you've experienced the bad; you have to know what it's like to lose to know what it's like to win.
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ReplyDeleteCompeting at that level is a very stressful thing. Athletes that compete at that high of a level train days to become good at that sport or event. They train to win but you can't always win and some athletes just have to cope with the loss and work to become better.
ReplyDeleteThese high level athletes that participate in these games are under a great load of stress. They are overloaded by years of work they put into their sport and then having to compete at these games every 4 years. To add to the stress levels they encounter little sleep, anxiety, nervousness, huge crowds, representing their country, people all over the world watching them, their family cheering for them, and all of their hard work going into the couple events that they do.
ReplyDeleteCompeting in an event like this would be very challenging but very rewarding. If i were to compete in an event like this, i would focus on my weaknesses instead of my strengths in practice. Going into an event like this, i would be confident in myself but be aware that there is a chance that i may not win.
ReplyDelete--Dillon Heginbottom
I think that competing at a high level would be pretty amazing but also really stressful. To prepare yourself you would have to be mentally and physically trained to all limits & beyond. You don't necessarily need to think about defeat to win. The thought should cross your path but it doesn't have to stay. To win, you need hard work and the ability to believe in yourself.
ReplyDeleteIn order to even THINK about being in the Olympics, you must be engaged 100% into the activity and you have to enjoy it. If you don't enjoy the sport or activity you are in, you won't be successful. If you know what you're doing, you'll be fine. Honestly, to prepare for the olympics, you must face every obstacle that it may have, and try your best at doing it well.
ReplyDeleteI do this exact same thing when I play on stage. Over time and years of playing live, I've developed questions to ask my self so I won't feel unmotivated or less confident. I would ask my self so what if I break a string, or play the wrong verse, or etc.? IT's not going to hurt anybody or destroy the world. And it's forgettable, everyone's not going to remember most of the concerte anyway so just play on and if I mess up, oh well.
ReplyDeleteCompeting at an extremely high level would be really fun but would completely stress me out. I'd practice constantly and never have any free time.
ReplyDeleteWhat are your thoughts about competing at such a high level? What would you do to prepare? To win, do you need to prepare for defeat?
ReplyDeleteFor olympians, competing a such a high level may be difficult, but it's something they have prepared their whole lives for. I would train excessively, as they do, because all the training should be for improving, not maintain the same record. Olympians should definitely prepare for defeat, everyone wants the gold, and every country is sending out their best. Anything can happen when you go against the best of the best, defeat is a possibility.
I feel it would be really hard and nerve-wracking to compete at a really high level. When I was a gymnast it was really hard and nerve-wracking for me and I wasn't even competing at a really high level. I would work out/ practice as much as I could, eat healthy, and prepare for failure. To win you should prepare for defeat because everyone you are competing against wants victory and not everyone will be victorious. Many people will be defeated.
ReplyDeleteThe level the athletes train at is very high. Most of us cannot even come close to training at that level. It takes a lot of mental as well as physical stamina. If they win then they got what they trained for for a really long time. If they lose, then they have to cope with the loss and try again if that is what they are going for.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't even fathom how hard those athletes train, and how well they pro form under all of that stress. What most people don't realize is that not everyone can just be an olympic athlete it takes a lot of mental and physical training. Followed by all of the training they do, lack of sleep, anxiety, plus whatever comes with. Think about it this way, would you be able to pro form in front of the world and not be stressed, have everyone watching your every move and not have any anxiety? No. They are truly special people. if they succeed then all their hard work pays off. If they fail then all of their training was a waste, they'll have to try again in the next olympics.
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