Thinking Like an Olympian: Redefining Success and Prioritizing Mental Health
As the Winter Olympics approach, athletes from around the world are gearing up to compete at the highest level. But with the intense pressure to perform comes the risk of mental health struggles. Emily Clark, a clinical psychologist with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, is working to help athletes redefine what it means to be successful and prioritize their mental well-being.
With a staff of 15 providing psychological services, Clark focuses on stress management, sleep, and motivation, among other topics. She emphasizes that winning gold medals shouldn’t be the only measure of success, as most athletes will not achieve this goal. Instead, she encourages athletes to focus on the process and savor the moment.
Redefining Success and Building Resilience
According to Clark, about 70.8% of Winter and Summer Olympic athletes only compete in one Olympics, and few achieve fame and success like Michael Phelps or Mikaela Shiffrin. She delivers a message to Olympians and Paralympians: this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, focus on the process, and don’t define success solely by winning. Clark preaches staying on task under pressure, improving through defeat, and developing resilience in the face of setbacks and failure.
Kendall Gretsch, a four-time gold medalist, credits the USOPC’s mental health services for some of her success. American figure skater Alysa Liu, the 2025 world champion, also works with a sports psychologist and values the support. Even experienced athletes like Lindsey Vonn, who will compete in her sixth Olympics, recognize the importance of mental preparation, although she jokes that she didn’t need a psychologist, relying on self-talk and messages on her skis instead.
Prioritizing Sleep and Mental Clarity
Clark highlights the importance of sleep for athletes, citing issues like travel schedules, late practices, and life-related stress. She suggests strategies like avoiding caffeine after 3 p.m., mitigating stress before bedtime, and scheduling sleep at the same time daily. Dani Aravich, a two-time Paralympian, tracks her sleep and values the psychological services provided by the USOPC, recognizing that sleep is essential for mental clarity and performance.
By prioritizing mental health and redefining success, athletes can develop skills that extend their careers and make their experiences more enjoyable. As Clark emphasizes, sleep is the cornerstone of healthy performance, and athletes who prioritize their mental well-being are better equipped to handle the pressures of competition. For more information on mental health and wellness, visit Here
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