PHILOSOPHY & PSYCHOLOGY
PHILOSOPHY & PSYCHOLOGY
It’s not a surprise that many athletes deal with extreme perfectionism. They are bombarded with statistics and numbers whilst being judged by coaches and others on speed, strength, weight etc. Putting it simply, athletes are investing all their effort into training to improve these numbers. With all this effort, athletes may tend to set themselves unrealistic goals and become highly outcome- orientated, so when these objectives are most likely not achieved, separating themselves from their mistakes and failures is incredibly difficult. Victoria Pendleton, when interviewed in 2008 after winning six cycling world championship titles and Olympic gold,
The influence of social media on athletes perpetuates unrealistic ideals, emphasizing a narrow view of what an athlete’s life should entail. High-profile athletes frequently showcase only their sporting achievements, inadvertently suggesting that perfection is synonymous with complete immersion in their sport. Today, more than ever, distinguishing between an athlete’s online persona and their authentic self has become challenging. This blurred line can fuel an athlete’s obsession with their sport as they strive to match the misrepresented image portrayed online, potentially amplifying an unhealthy level of dedication. One of the most detrimental aspects of perfectionism is the overwhelming guilt and shame experienced upon failure, often leading individuals to withhold effort to avoid facing these emotions. This is a severe problem in sport. If athletes decide to not put any effort in to avoid genuinely failing, what does this mean for the future of sport? This behaviour not only sabotages current performance but also feeds into anxiety about future failures, potentially leading athletes to avoid certain training or competitions, perpetuating a cycle of underperformance and heightened anxiety.
given situation. Consequently, satisfaction with performance dwindles due to an overly critical self-evaluation process. The impacts of perfectionism are ongoing as athletes may have recurring thoughts about the need to be flawless and meet up to their perfectionist ideals, which can never match their actual performance. This perfectionistic mindset is closely tied to an athlete’s burnout, especially coupled with unrealistic goals and excessive self-expectations. Its prevalence prompts reflection on how this once motivational trait has escalated into a widespread issue impacting athlete well- being and performance.
expressed, “I just want to prove that I’m really good at something, And I haven’t quite done that yet - at least not to myself”. While this sentiment may not immediately sound extreme, it underscores the toxic normalisation of perfectionism under the guise of ‘striving for excellence.’ The impact of perfectionism permeates every stage of an athlete’s performance journey. Anxiety and dejection before a competition are increased which can harm not only the individual but the entire team’s preparation. During athletic performances, perfectionistic concerns are associated with higher appraisals of threat, making athletes believe they lack the necessary resources to cope with the
“I just want to prove that I’m really good at something, And I haven’t quite done that yet - at least not to myself”
VICTORIA PENDLETON
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