Beyond the Podium: Life Lessons From the Olympics
As we transition into fall and back to school season, I’ve been reflecting on one of the highlight events of the summer - watching the 2024 Olympic Games that took place in Paris. The Games have a way of getting me invested even in sports that I don’t consistently follow, and I’m always so amazed by the talent of all the international athletes who train, qualify for, and compete in various events. Many of my young clients are athletes at various levels of competition, and I originally thought of them as I developed the idea for this blog post. In truth though, I believe there are some valuable lessons we can all take away from watching and cheering on the Olympians.
Taking a break for self-care can make you stronger
One of my favorite storylines from these Olympic games was the return of Simone Biles to gymnastics competition. As many of you will recall, she withdrew from the 2021 Tokyo Summer Games after getting a case of the “twisties,” which occurs when athletes get lost in the air during rotational moves. The twisties are a form of mental block that can be triggered or exacerbated by stress, doubt, the quest for perfection, and mental health challenges. When Biles withdrew in Tokyo, she was unsure if she’d ever compete at such an elite level again, and in fact she took two years off from gymnastics altogether. She reportedly used that time to prioritize her mental health by attending weekly therapy sessions, focusing on supportive relationships, speaking about her experiences, going for outdoor walks, and indulging in a bit of “retail therapy.” Biles resumed training in late 2022, and even at that point, she gradually eased back into her full routine over the course of a few months. It seems like her plan worked, because she returned to the 2024 Olympics stronger than ever, earning four medals and cementing her status as the most decorated gymnast of all time (including Olympics and World Championship medals). Just like Simone, we could all likely benefit from listening to our bodies, pausing to take care of ourselves when needed, and easing into our demanding routines gradually to maximize resilience and successful coping with life’s challenges.
Even when we’re competing, we can cheer each other on
While we’re on the topic of gymnastics, this was the context for another one of my favorite Olympics moments. In the individual gymnastics floor final event, Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade won the gold medal, while Simone Biles won silver and her USA teammate Jordan Chiles took bronze (at the time; there have been many complicated developments since then). During the medal ceremony, the Team USA competitors showed their respect for Andrade by bowing down to her on the podium. Notably, Andrade is another fantastic example of resilience, as she’s experienced three torn ACLs (in 2015, 2017, and 2019) and still returned to the highest level of international competition. She and Biles have described one another as “friendly rivals,” and that warmth certainly showed in the way Andrade was celebrated by her competitors. I loved this moment as a great example of dialectical thinking and a “both/and” situation. It illustrated that athletes can work hard and want to win their events, and also recognize and appreciate the accomplishments of others. This moment didn’t take away from Biles’ and Chiles’ success in my mind; rather, it amplified the visibility of their humanity, respect, and kindness.
You can chase your dreams, no matter your age
The amount of young talent in the Olympics never ceases to amaze me, and the representation of youth in the Paris Games was no different. The youngest Olympian this summer was skateboarder Zheng Haohao of China, who qualified and competed at just under 12 years of age. She was eliminated in the first round of the women’s park competition but still finished in 18th place in the world. Who won that event, by the way? A 14-year-old from Australia, Arisa Trew. With such early starts to their Olympic careers, I wouldn’t be surprised to see both Trew and Haohao as able competitors in Los Angeles 2028 and beyond! On the other hand, the oldest active competitor at the Games was Juan Antonio Jimenez Cobo of Spain, an equestrian who is 65 years old. Perhaps even more interesting to note is that he was 41 years old when he competed in his first Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000. He took a 20 year gap between his last Games (Athens 2004) and his return to Paris this summer, focusing on coaching and running a dressage school in the interim. Though he ultimately didn’t qualify for individual or team finals, Jimenez Cobo reminds us all that it’s never too late to get back out there and actively pursue our passions.
Emotions are valid, and expressing them is a strength
The Olympics are an emotional roller coaster for athletes and viewers alike. From celebrations of joy and disbelief after strong performances, to tears of disappointment and sorrow when teams or individuals fell short of their goals, there were plenty of emotions on display throughout the Games. As a mental health professional and human, I love to see it! One of the rawest displays of emotions I witnessed live during these Games occurred after a thrilling men’s tennis singles final between Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, when both men allowed the tears to flow. At 37 years of age, Djokovic finally won the gold medal he’d been working toward since his first appearance in the Olympics in 2008. His tears during the post-match celebration with family and the playing of his country’s national anthem were a demonstration of his deep appreciation for the moment. Djokovic’s opponent, 21-year-old Alcaraz, also cried, most likely tears of disappointment and fatigue, after missing his chance to become the youngest male singles gold medalist at the Olympics. I’d imagine that we can all relate in some way to these emotional displays on both sides of the match. As viewers, we may have teared up throughout the Games ourselves due to our empathy and compassion for the athletes’ experiences. No matter what country/countries we represent or cheer for, there’s a common humanity that unites us all in the emotions we experience and share. In these times, I find that to be a welcome and comforting reminder.
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