Sport’s grandest arenas are often crucibles of both triumph and devastating failure. This in-depth analysis delves into the psychological tools and unwavering support systems that empower elite athletes like Simone Biles, Bill Buckner, and Orion Kerkering to overcome monumental setbacks, offering profound insights for anyone confronting adversity.
In the high-octane world of professional sports, athletes are expected to perform at their peak, often with millions of eyes fixed on their every move. Yet, the reality is that failure is as much a part of competition as success. For those on the biggest stages—the Olympics, the World Series, playoff elimination games—shortcomings can unfold in uniquely devastating ways, leaving indelible marks on their careers and the collective memory of fans.
These moments become etched in history, defining athletes not just by their victories, but by how they confront and attempt to move past their most agonizing mistakes. From the unprecedented candor of seven-time Olympic gymnast Simone Biles addressing her struggle with “the twisties” during the 2020 Tokyo Games, to the enduring legacy of former Boston Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner’s infamous error in the 1986 World Series, fan bases across the globe have a tendency to dwell on these painful incidents. More recently, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Orion Kerkering joined this exclusive club when his mishandling of a bases-loaded comebacker led to his team’s elimination from the MLB playoffs.
The Universal Lesson of Loss
“Just kind of keep going with it. It’s hopefully starting a long career,” the third-year pitcher Orion Kerkering shared through blurry eyes after his pivotal error. “Just keep in the back of my head. … Get over this hump. Keep pushing.” His words echo a sentiment common among athletes, but the path to truly moving past such a public failure is rarely straightforward.
The profound nature of loss in sports transcends the playing field, a point even Pope Leo XIV underscored in a social media post earlier this year. “In our competitive society, where it seems that only the strong and winners deserve to live, sport also teaches us how to lose,” the Pope’s message conveyed. “It forces us, in learning the art of losing, to confront our fragility, our limitations and our imperfections.” This perspective highlights how athletic setbacks mirror broader human experiences of vulnerability and growth.
For both amateur and professional athletes, experts like sports psychologists emphasize that recovery demands not only an acknowledgment of the failure but also the cultivation of specific coping mechanisms to return to a high level of performance. These strategies offer invaluable lessons for the general public in navigating personal and professional adversity.
Strategic Approaches to Mental Resilience
Developing resilience in the face of competitive pressure is a multifaceted process. Sports psychologists identify several key areas where athletes can build their mental fortitude:
Prior Preparation: Anticipating Adversity
While the future remains unpredictable, mental preparation can equip athletes to handle high-pressure scenarios. Robert Andrews, founder and director of The Institute of Sports Performance, with over three decades of experience working with Olympians like Biles, as well as NBA, NFL, and MLB players, stresses the importance of preparatory techniques. He noted that Kerkering “got highly reactive on that play,” suggesting that advanced mental training could have helped him remain “mentally and emotionally centered in a situation like that.”
This proactive mindset involves rehearsing potential challenges, building a psychological buffer against unexpected events. It’s about developing the internal resources to stay calm and focused when the stakes are highest, minimizing the chances of succumbing to pressure and making reactive errors.
The “Release, Reset, Refocus” Routine
Alex Auerbach, a performance psychologist for the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars who also works with Olympians and Fortune 500 executives, advocates for a routine he calls “release, reset, refocus.” This technique allows athletes to quickly disengage from mistakes during a game or performance. As Auerbach explains via email, “The biggest thing is learning to redirect your attention to the task at hand. When we make a mistake and dwell on it, that rumination interferes with efficient motor execution. … If they can bring attention back to the present and the task at hand, they can minimize disruption to their performance.”
This method underscores the importance of immediate mental agility, preventing a single misstep from spiraling into further performance degradation.
Healing After the Game: Post-Event Recovery
Once the game or competition concludes, the mental repair work truly begins. The aftermath of a public failure often brings a fresh wave of challenges, including intense scrutiny and criticism.
Avoiding the Digital Noise
Robert Andrews‘ first piece of advice for athletes post-failure is to avoid social media. The digital landscape can quickly become a hostile environment, with hateful messages and even death threats often awaiting athletes after high-profile errors. This immediate disengagement is crucial for protecting mental well-being during a vulnerable period.
Building a Support System
Beyond avoiding negativity, Andrews emphasizes the need to “get loved up, surround yourself with people that are going to support you through this.” Having a strong network of family, friends, and trusted mentors is vital for processing the emotional toll of such events. This support helps contextualize the failure, providing perspective and reassurance.
Specialized Mental Health Protocols
For deep-seated trauma, specialized techniques can be invaluable. Andrews utilizes EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a protocol designed to help the brain process traumatic experiences and reduce their emotional impact. This can be particularly effective for athletes struggling with performance anxiety, such as the “yips,” preventing them from being “afraid to go out and field a ground ball again.”
However, this healing process cannot be rushed. Just like a physical injury, the brain needs time to recover from psychological trauma. Andrews suggests giving it “a month or so” before actively teaching the nervous system “how to process the shock of that event,” ensuring a thorough and lasting recovery.
The Evolving Landscape of Mental Health in Sports
The good news, according to Alex Auerbach, is a growing acceptance of mental health strategies in sports. “Especially in baseball, athletes are more receptive than ever to mindset work,” he states. “There’s an increasing appreciation for the role mental health and performance play in facilitating top performance for these athletes.”
This shift represents a crucial evolution, acknowledging that an athlete’s mental state is as vital as their physical conditioning. By embracing these tools, athletes not only enhance their ability to perform under pressure but also demonstrate profound resilience, offering powerful models for anyone striving to overcome their own adversities. For more on how athletes navigate mental challenges, refer to insights from the Associated Press’s coverage of Simone Biles’ ‘twisties’ and the historical context of Bill Buckner’s impactful error.
