Winter Olympics 2026: How do extreme skiers overcome fear of serious injury?

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CrimsonOrbit

For elite winter sports athletes like freestyle skiers, the biggest challenge is not only mastering the technical skills required but also overcoming the fear of serious injury. The line between success and failure can be as little as a few millimeters when landing difficult tricks on snow.

Dealing with the fear of what might happen if things go wrong is just as important as honing any other skill in winter sports. The jeopardy is real, as athletes push the limits of physical possibility while pushing themselves out of their comfort zones.

Zoe Atkin, a Team GB Winter Olympic medal hopeful competing in ski halfpipe, says that overcoming fear is crucial to performance. She credits her university studies in symbolic systems with helping her understand fear from a biological process. By focusing on the present moment through meditation and mindfulness techniques, she's able to set aside thoughts of uncertainty and instead concentrate on executing each trick flawlessly.

Atkin recalls that after her sister Izzy claimed bronze at Pyeongchang 2018, Zoe was inspired to pursue skiing herself. Atkin says, "I can tell myself it is just bodily reactions, and it's understandable - it would be crazy if I didn't feel fear. Just reframing fear as something more positive, that you can do it even if you have that fear."

In contrast, Kirsty Muir, another Team GB skier competing in ski slopestyle and big air, has a very different approach to managing fear. She relies on superstition, such as wearing the same face mask her idol wore at a dry ski slope when she was younger, and listens to music - specifically Foo Fighters' "The Pretender" - during competitions to help her switch off.

Muir acknowledges that her sport is inherently risky but believes that having control over one's own mental state is key. She says, "My dad listened to rock, and my sister loves [Foo Fighters singer Dave Grohl's former band] Nirvana, so I started listening and it spiralled from there."

For Muir, the key to overcoming fear is accepting that accidents can happen but being prepared for them. By adopting a more logical approach and focusing on technique over emotions, she aims to stay focused under pressure.

Both Atkin and Muir demonstrate the importance of mental toughness in elite winter sports. Their varying strategies highlight the unique challenges each athlete faces as they strive to achieve success without succumbing to fear or injury.
 
the fact that these athletes are open about their struggles with fear and how they cope with it is so inspiring 🙌, i mean, think about it, we're all afraid of something in life whether it's public speaking, trying new things or just living day to day, but they're taking it to a whole new level by pushing themselves on the slopes.
i'm also loving how both Atkin and Muir are focusing on different approaches to managing their fear, like mindfulness for Atkin and superstition/music for Muir - it's all about finding what works best for you, right?
and i think this is where mental toughness really comes into play, it's not just about being brave or fearless, but also about being aware of your emotions and taking steps to manage them.
anyway, these athletes are my ultimate role models 💪, always pushing the limits and inspiring us to do the same.
 
[Image of a snowboarder wiping out with an epic fail GIF ] 😂🏂😅

[Fu Manchu holding a "I'd rather be skiing" sign, with a pair of skis in the background] 🤣🎿

[A series of funny memes about people trying to meditate but failing miserably] 😴💤

[Image of Zoe Atkin and Kirsty Muir giving each other a skeptical look, with thought bubbles above their heads showing different approaches to managing fear ] 🤔🙃

[Footage of Foo Fighters' "The Pretender" playing on repeat, with a snowboarder in the background nodding their head] 🎸👍
 
THE MINDSET OF A SKIER IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE SKI ITSELF 🏂💪! I MEAN, THESE ATHLETES ARE PUSHING THEIR BODIES TO THE LIMIT EVERY TIME THEY STEP ONTO THE COMPETITION FIELD AND THEY NEED TO BE MENTALLY PREPARED FOR THAT. ZOE ATKIN'S MEDITATION AND MINDFULNESS TECHNIQUES SEEM LIKE A POWERFUL TOOL, BUT KIRSTY MUIR'S SUPERSTITION IS QUITE INTERESTING TOO! IT JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT THERE'S NO ONE SIZE FITS WHEN IT COMES TO MANAGING FEAR IN SPORTS.
 
I don't usually comment but I'm actually really curious about how athletes like Zoe and Kirsty manage their nerves before a big competition 🤔. It's crazy that one person uses meditation and mindfulness while another relies on superstition with music and old face masks lol 😂. I think it's great that they've found what works for them, even if it's not exactly what you'd expect from an athlete. But for me, I'm more of a 'just get in the zone' kind of person, no matter what 🏂💨.
 
It's crazy how much psychology comes into play for these elite athletes 🤯. I mean, it's not just about mastering the skills on snow, but also dealing with the mental aspect of potentially failing or getting hurt 😬. Zoe Atkin's approach to meditation and mindfulness is really interesting, she's able to quiet her mind and focus on the present moment ⏱️.

On the other hand, Kirsty Muir's superstition tactics are pretty cool 🤓, who wouldn't want to channel their idol and Foo Fighters vibes pre-competition? 💥 But seriously, it's all about finding what works for each individual athlete and staying focused under pressure. Mental toughness is key in these high-risk sports ⚡️.

It's also worth noting that both athletes have different strategies to cope with fear, but ultimately they're both trying to achieve the same goal - success without injury 🏆.
 
🤔 I think it's so cool how these athletes use different approaches to deal with fear & anxiety 🧘‍♀️. Zoe Atkin's meditation & mindfulness techniques are like, super helpful for staying present in the moment 💫, while Kirsty Muir's superstition & music vibes bring her more calm & focus 😎. What I find interesting is how they both agree that accidents can happen but being prepared is key 🔥. It's all about finding what works best for you & your mental game 🤝. And I love how Zoe reframes fear as something positive - that's a major mindset shift 💪!
 
I think its wild how much mental game is required for these athletes, ya know? 😂 Like, Zoe's all about meditating and being present, while Kirsty's more like "hey, if I can just vibe with Foo Fighters, maybe I'll crush it on the slopes" 🤘. But for real, both of them are showing us that fear is a natural thing, but we gotta learn to work with it. I mean, we can't let fear hold us back from doing the things we love, right? 💪 Maybe we could all try some mindfulness or superstition techniques ourselves... who knows, maybe it'd help me get better at DIY-ing 🚧😂
 
The Olympics are still trying to figure out how to make it safer for these crazy athletes but honestly, a few millimeters can be all it takes to go from gold to bronze
 
I remember when I used to watch skiing competitions on TV and it was all about the thrill, you know? 🏂 But now, I see how mentally tough these athletes need to be. It's not just about landing tricks, but also about dealing with that fear of falling or getting hurt. Zoe Atkin's approach with meditation and mindfulness is pretty cool, but Kirsty Muir's superstition thing is quite amusing 😂. I mean, wearing the same face mask as her idol? That's dedication! But seriously, it's awesome to see these athletes find ways to manage their nerves and focus on the present moment. Mental toughness is key in any competitive sport, especially one that comes with so much risk 🤯. And it's interesting to see how different approaches can work for each person. The human brain is crazy, right? 💡
 
I'm not surprised that mental toughness is a huge factor for these athletes 🤔. It's crazy how much of an impact mindset can have on performance, right? I mean, Zoe Atkin's use of meditation and mindfulness techniques is really interesting - it makes sense that focusing on the present moment would help her stay calm under pressure 💆‍♀️.

But at the same time, I think Kirsty Muir's reliance on superstition is a bit...unconventional 😂. I'm not saying it doesn't work for her or anything, but it's not something I'd want to try myself! On a more serious note though, I do think that having control over one's mental state is crucial in this kind of high-risk sport 🙏.

It's also interesting that both athletes have found ways to reframe their fear into something positive - like Atkin saying she can "do it even if you have that fear". That's a pretty cool mindset shift, imo 😎.
 
You know what's wild? I was just thinking about this the other day... have you ever noticed how some songs can totally change your mood? Like, I'll be listening to something chill and then Foo Fighters' "The Pretender" comes on and suddenly I'm pumped up 🤘. It's like my brain is wired to associate that song with energy and adrenaline. But it makes sense when you think about it - music has a way of tapping into our emotions, right? And Kirsty Muir's using that connection to her advantage by listening to Foo Fighters during competitions. That's so cool! I mean, who wouldn't want to channel their inner Dave Grohl 🤘💥.
 
🤕 Another skier gets hurt... like, literally 🏂😷 Kirsty Muir is getting hit by that same old face mask from her idol while Zoe Atkin just needs a PhD in meditating her way out of anxiety 🧘‍♀️😴 her sister Izzy was already a gold medalist when she started skiing and now we got these 2 ladies competing on the world stage trying to be all zen and stuff but still might end up broke because who hasn't seen those injuries 😬
 
🤯 I'm literally on the edge of my seat watching these athletes risk their lives for a thrill... I mean, I get it, it's part of the sport and all that, but some tricks are just too insane! 😱 I can imagine how scary it must be to know that one miscalculation could end in disaster. 🤕 Atkin's approach to meditation and mindfulness sounds like a solid way to stay focused, but Muir's reliance on superstition is a bit wild for me... does she really think the face mask thingy makes a difference? 🤷‍♀️ Anyway, I'm all for mental toughness in sports - it's awesome that these women are using different strategies to overcome their fears and push themselves to the limit! 💪
 
I gotta say, these athletes are literally mental 💥 Zoe's meditating vibes seem super legit, though 🙏 Atkin's right, we can't change our physical reactions but reframing fear into something positive is key 🔓 Not sure about Muir's superstition tho 😂 wearing the same face mask and listening to Foo Fighters like it's a magic trick 🎸
 
I had a crazy skiing trip with friends last year 🤣... We were all trying to land this one trick and I wiped out like 10 times in a row 😂. But honestly, the funniest part was when we were sitting around a campfire later on, swapping stories of our wipeouts, and someone said "well at least you didn't break anything" 😂. It's funny how fear can be such a weird thing - one minute it's got your back, the next it's what's holding you back 🤦‍♀️. These athletes are totally right that mental toughness is key... I mean, I've been there where my mind was racing and I just couldn't focus, but then I'd take a few deep breaths and just calm down 😌. It's all about finding what works for you, I guess? 🤔
 
🏂😬 I think it's so cool how these athletes use different approaches to deal with their fears, but what really gets me is that both of them have said that overcoming fear is about reframing it in a positive way... like, instead of being scared, they try to focus on executing the trick flawlessly. 🤯 It makes sense, I mean, when you're skiing down a mountain at super high speeds, every millimeter counts! 💨 And I love how Kirsty Muir uses Foo Fighters music to calm her nerves - I'm totally gonna give that a try next time I'm feeling anxious 😎
 
I'm no expert but I feel like these athletes are like me when it comes to anxiety 😂... you know, just trying not to wipe out on life's little tricks 🤣. But seriously, how else can you explain why they're all wearing these tiny protective suits in the first place? Like, is it just a fad or are we actually that scared of breaking our bones on a snowboard? 🤷‍♂️
 
🤔 those athletes gotta have some serious nerve to even attempt those crazy tricks 🏂💥 zoe atkin's university studies on symbolic systems might actually be kinda useful for her mental game 🧠 and kirsty muir's superstition is a whole different level lol 😂 but seriously, can you imagine wearing the same face mask as some random person's idol just to psych yourself up? 🤣 still, it's impressive how they've found ways to manage their fear and stay focused under pressure 💪
 
I was thinking about trying out that new coffee shop downtown, have you been there? They have this amazing cold brew that's supposed to be super smooth 🤔. I've been meaning to try it out for weeks now, but I keep forgetting to grab a cup on my way to work. I wonder if they have any discounts or promotions going on... anyway, back to skiing - I'm not sure which approach I think would work better for me, meditating and focusing on the present moment like Atkin, or just relying on superstition like Muir 🎸. Maybe I'll try a mix of both?
 
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