For elite Winter Olympic athletes, the battle is just as important as honing any other skill. The fine line between success and failure in winter sports can be a matter of millimeters when landing difficult tricks on snow. Dealing with the fear of what might happen if things go wrong is crucial for these athletes.
Team GB Winter Olympic medal hopeful Zoe Atkin, who competes in ski halfpipe, says that overcoming fear is her biggest challenge. The 23-year-old athlete believes that symbolic systems is an interdisciplinary field that has helped her understand fear from a biological process. She uses meditation and breathing techniques to focus on the present moment, and she emphasizes that being okay with falling is key.
GB team-mate Kirsty Muir, who also competes in ski slopestyle and big air, takes a different approach. She has a lucky snood, face masks worn by skiers, and has Foo Fighters' "The Pretender" as her competition song. She finds that music helps her switch off and gets into the right mindset before competing.
Both athletes have had to deal with injuries in their careers. Atkin's sister Izzy broke her pelvis just before the 2022 Winter Olympics and retired from competitive skiing, while Muir suffered a torn cruciate ligament in her knee and will be ruled out for the next year.
While they may approach fear differently, both athletes agree that acceptance is key to overcoming it. For Atkin, reframing fear as something positive that can be overcome through training is crucial, while Muir finds solace in superstition and music.
Ultimately, for these elite Winter Olympic athletes, fear is a natural response, but it's how they choose to deal with it that sets them apart.
Team GB Winter Olympic medal hopeful Zoe Atkin, who competes in ski halfpipe, says that overcoming fear is her biggest challenge. The 23-year-old athlete believes that symbolic systems is an interdisciplinary field that has helped her understand fear from a biological process. She uses meditation and breathing techniques to focus on the present moment, and she emphasizes that being okay with falling is key.
GB team-mate Kirsty Muir, who also competes in ski slopestyle and big air, takes a different approach. She has a lucky snood, face masks worn by skiers, and has Foo Fighters' "The Pretender" as her competition song. She finds that music helps her switch off and gets into the right mindset before competing.
Both athletes have had to deal with injuries in their careers. Atkin's sister Izzy broke her pelvis just before the 2022 Winter Olympics and retired from competitive skiing, while Muir suffered a torn cruciate ligament in her knee and will be ruled out for the next year.
While they may approach fear differently, both athletes agree that acceptance is key to overcoming it. For Atkin, reframing fear as something positive that can be overcome through training is crucial, while Muir finds solace in superstition and music.
Ultimately, for these elite Winter Olympic athletes, fear is a natural response, but it's how they choose to deal with it that sets them apart.
! I mean, you're talking about millimeters of difference between winning and losing in their sport - that's crazy! And they're not just focusing on physical skills, but also mental toughness too 
. It's so cool that Zoe is using meditation to manage her fear, and Kirsty has a lucky snood 
. I think it's awesome how they've both found different ways to cope with their fears, whether it's through training, superstition, or just plain old music 
. And can we talk about how brave they are dealing with injuries like that? It's inspiring to see them overcome those setbacks and still go for gold 
.
just read about the 2 british skiers who are gonna compete in the olympics... atkin's sis broke her pelvis like 5 yrs ago and now her sister izzy is retired 
muir had a torn ligament in her knee and she's out for the next year 
meanwhile they're over there trying to overcome their fears with meditation and lucky snoods 
either way, i guess it's all about how you deal with anxiety, but honestly, it sounds like these ladies have some legit demons to deal with 
I feel like both of these girls are giving me actual hope 
. I'm definitely gonna try out some of these techniques before my next gaming session 
I think its so cool how these skiers use different methods to deal with fear. Zoe's all about meditation and being present in the moment 
, while Kirsty's like "Hey, music is my thing!" 
. And I love that both of them agree on acceptance being key - it's all about finding what works for you and using it to your advantage 
It's crazy that they have to deal with injuries too 
. But at the same time, I'm kinda impressed by Zoe Atkin's meditation skills 
. Anyway, can't wait to see these athletes in action and hoping they all get those medals 
their mental game is literally as strong as their physical skills. And I love how different they approach fear, like Atkin's all about the mindfulness and Muir's got her lucky snood and Foo Fighters jammin' to get in the zone 
it just goes to show that there's no one-size-fits-all way to deal with nerves – each person is unique and what works for them is gonna work for 'em.
For me, facing my fears head-on is way more appealing than trying to just "accept" them. Meditation and breathing techniques are cool and all, but when you're talking about a high-stakes sport like ski halfpipe, I need something with a bit more substance 
I think its pretty cool how both Zoe and Kirsty have found their own ways to cope with fear. Like, who doesn't struggle with it sometimes? 
But seriously, its awesome that they've figured out what works for them. For me, music is like my go-to thing too - nothing beats a good playlist before a big competition! 
it's like we're watching a documentary on their minds! i totally get why they need to find ways to cope, especially with all the pressure to perform in the Olympics 
I think it's amazing how they're not just focusing on winning, but also being okay with falling (literally and figuratively