One psychological explanation for Kane’s successes can be found in the concept of challenge and threat states, which explains why some athletes perform better than others under pressure.
Sport and exercise psychology research studies – which inform the strategies athletes use to reach peak performance – have predominantly used male participants.
The past 18 months have tested the mental and physical limits of Olympic athletes in their pursuit of the Tokyo Games. That’s what makes the performances during these Olympics even more remarkable.
No-one ever asks the players how the quota system affects them. When one academic did, she found conflicting and complex responses about the impact of transformation in South African sport.
One of the most pressurised roles in the pressure cooker that is the Rugby World Cup is the referee. Threatening fans are causing them to quit the game at all levels.
Australia’s cricketers were once known as tough but fair, but the latest ball tampering scandal has many asking how some of the leading players could have stooped so low.
Why can an athlete dominate their sport, but fail to perform when it counts most at the Olympic Games? A number of factors the viewing audience can’t see can explain poor performances.
Failure is something all athletes need to deal with, especially when competing on the world stage that is the Olympics. Learning self-compassion can help athletes rebound from setbacks.