What makes elite athletes thrive or dive under pressure?

Psychology is an increasingly important part of elite sport. Winning at the highest levels can depend as much on peak-fitness of the mind as the body. Film supported by ‪@DXCTechnology‬
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for top-level sports people it's not just skill and athleticism they count. So often, it's mind over matter. Psychology is now seen as increasingly vital to winning. In elite sport the difference between success and failure is often the finest of margins.
The annual boat race between Oxford and Cambridge universities is one of the oldest and most prestigious events in the sporting calendar. For the competitors, it's 20 minutes of pure pain but also pure pressure. How the rowers cope with that intense pressure can make the difference between glory and failure.
The Cambridge women's team have won the last two races and this woman has been one of the secrets of their success. Sports psychologist Helen Davis has worked on specific techniques to help the team at the most mentally testing moments in the race. As training for the 2019 race intensifies, just trying to keep up with teammates is mentally grueling.
Understanding what makes athletes cope or panic at those crucial moments is an ever-growing obsession in professional sport - it's the multi-billion dollar question that sports psychologists are constantly trying to answer. Dr Jamie Barker lectures at the world's leading sports science university Loughborough in Britain. In 2013 Jamie helped devise a cardiovascular test. It compared the physiological reactions of athletes who thrive in a high-pressure situation with those who flop. A group of aspiring professional cricketers were set a specific target. The cricketers were warned that their results would be made public and would decide who makes the team and who doesn't. Nearly half the players hit the test for six and scored the runs and most of them went into what psychologists call a challenge state. Over half the batsman found themselves on a stickier wicket and failed to make the runs they mostly entered the so-called threat state. Jamie employs a mental visualization technique that sports psychologists have used with a variety of professional teams. Athletes are asked a picture a set of scales - on one side are their demands, the obstacles to success. They're taught to tip the balance the other way towards their resources, the attributes they possess that can help them.
Sports psychology is sometimes criticized as a phony science but many major sports teams and personalities now use psychologists and there's a growing acceptance that this boosts performances. In sports, as in the world beyond, a mental edge can bring a winning one.
In elite sport the difference between winning and losing often hangs on the smallest of margins. As coaches, teams and athletes press ever harder in pursuit of victory, this series reveals the latest innovative approaches they hope will keep them ahead. From data to design, science to psychology, discover what it takes to find the winning edge.
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[@wdai03]

Dude she's on the row team and a PhD student, that's pretty crazy

[@livestrong296]

There must be atleast 1000 like her graduating every year from these elite universities. As an outsider we tend to think of them as nerds but they end up being superhuman.

[@wdai03]

@@livestrong296 I want to marry one

[@livestrong296]

@@wdai03 haha, that wouldn't be a good idea unless you have a similar alma matter and some decent athletic achievement. Even if one of them agreed to marry you, sooner or later you may feel like an underachiever and try desperately to overcompensate it somehow.

[@deepwork3032]

​@@livestrong296 Exactly.In some relationship study, its called the Equity Principle. Check it out.

[@aliikane]

So true. When all things being equal (physical, skill, talent) between athletes, the mentality is what separates the good from the great.

[@saraf5414]

I related to this as a master procrastinator hehe... I go full on challange mode the day before exam night lol

[@LOLEliSays]

Trying to go from a threat state to a challenging state. Fascinating!! Sports psychology is hugely underrated.

[@rajeevrp1500]

Did they actually say how they do it in this video ? I guess no.

[@shubhampandey4366]

explains why team India needs to fit in MSD.

[@sadanandapatel6123]

MSD earns approximately US$ 20 million every year . Don't you think he visits one of these psychologist more often than anyone else.

[@junayedh3248]

Msd has lost 7 icc tournaments too loll

[@vlado2701]

Thank You dear The Economist for Your helpful video ! I appreciate it !

[@BibinBCherian]

This is cool - more of these please Economist!

[@argiberico]

this explains Breshit so much!

[@ronvillejo7596]

There are ways, sometimes very precise, to help athletes - plus leaders and workers alike - shift from the Threat State to the Challenge State, and thus improve their performance. I'm a PhD in clinical psychology, not sports psychology, and such ways include re-balancing their focus on speed vs accuracy (or productivity vs efficiency) for a given situation.

[@kimchibbq5242]

Thank you🙏

[@bilalsidik9007]

Adds up when one is focused on improving one's ability rather than looking over the shoulder

[@shubhjeetful23]

Thank you. Very well made

[@bilalsidik9007]

Knowledge- understanding-ability

[@KKGoh5125]

The road to success is non random, but few have the mental capacity that keep on going. I'm from Malaysia and I'm proudly to share that my Prime Minister is 94yrs old this year and you will be very surprise to see how sharp his mind is....What make him different and standout? Most probably sustainable strong mental health

[@imranmehmood1449]

So the conclusion is that be relax whatever you face

[@miaomiao07]

That's interesting. I've thought about it in a way that when people go for thrilling rides, what goes through their mind that makes them able to enjoy and what makes them scared. Perhaps it is similar to what explained here.

[@aaronberns8485]

This is why competition isn't always a great thing.

[@saikat93ify]

Pressure in having to score some number of runs of an over is one thing but what about pressure where you have to grind it out in a test match and bat out the entire day ? It's not the kind of pressure where you get an adrenalin boost which gets over quickly.

[@kawarlubana7179]

WoW

[@gautamtomar5204]

Where is Mitchell Johnson?

[@lifeoftennis1285]

Gautam Tomar, doesn’t matter. All that matters is that it perfectly outlined what the video is about. Even Alastair Cook’s photo...it was a contrast between a batsman hitting a century in pressure, and a bowler failing to take wickets under pressure.

[@govindrajprabhu136]

Wow

[@IrenIrenIren]

Very interesting. Could anyone recommend books on this particular topic?

[@KKGoh5125]

The Road of Less Travelled, where u learn the importance of recognising your own mistake then you will build a better self

[@bc1pRichard]

spark:the revolutionary new science of exercise and the brain

[@arpitgoyal1979]

the hour between dog and wolf. talks about it in regards to trading financial securities

[@duartesantos3535]

The Inner Game of Tennis

[@importantname]

Money makes it - Not a Sport. It is Business!!!

[@MrSushant3]

Sad but true :(

[@ethancrowe280]

That's if you think money will make you happy. You can 'make it' but not have money, it's all perspective.

[@carmenmaschmeyer8211]

❤

[@fantasydark4643]

In japan, challenge status is called zoom zero.

[@TheMullela]

"Questions in titles that are never going to be explained" - The Economist

[@RPDBY]

Good overview but video provides zero practical advice, what's the point then?

[@blackwatch_TV]

True, cool topic and video

[@kobusg7460]

Do the same in your own life, incl and especially your work-career. A Branson and a Musk and a Zuckerberg push themselves and think positive and face fear with aggression / positivity, rather than be concerned that you may loose. Be brave and aggressive and push yourself - beyond what you thought was possible.

[@c.l.6523]

They did state practical advice; it just went over your head. The video recommend that people should focus on things that they can control during adverse situations. This creates perceived control, which will improve their performance. Next time, listen to the video bonehead.

[@ryanjonny8207]

The practical advice is self explanatory. Your comment tells me you seek or are leading for help from sources outside of yourself...…….other people or organizations you perceive as powerful. I am telling you the whole world and it's conditions, circumstances the way people behave towards you are nothing more than a reflection of your consciousness. An inner state of consciousness you consistently dwell in. Change your conception of yourself.

[@veliem3935]

I felt that too😕

[@kayaeki]

Roger Federer says "It's all mental"

[@universe0963]

Today pv shindhu loss match due to confidence and pressure

[@BrotherWoody1]

As Billy Jean King says, "Pressure is a privilege".

[@johnnguyen4053]

I swear of god, after watching this video, i just want to scroll down and find sone funny comments :))

[@carlbyronrodgers]

Tim Gallwey The Inner Game.

[@khairulamri4196]

Do you mean we can find more explanation about this topic in this book you mentioned?

[@shanthakrishnansp7553]

Just came for AC

[@imviiku]

Ask Sachin Tendulkar.. What's Mental Pressure .

[@rajbandhu400]

@High Plains Drifter cricketer,master of straight drive,cool af,.ts cricket very difficult to play and undrstd. generally people google any topic to know more these days..

[@ivlas2000]

High Plains Drifter relax mate and dont act over smart.

[@ivlas2000]

High Plains Drifter haha...it doesnt matter whether u knw him or not, it will not stop him from getting applauds at Lords cricket ground:-)

[@ivlas2000]

High Plains Drifter I can feel ur pain. keep burning

[@someone5444]

@High Plains Drifter the guy who fucked ur cricket team, 😂😂😂😂

[@SHRWM]

In team sports there is a ceiling to what physicality can bring. Top athletes are all living strict lives and are all in peak shape, especially going into major competition's so the difference is usually either organisation and strategy, psychological or a mix of both. I follow football, but the reason I'm watching is because of the rugby world cup. I've always been interested in the psychology of the All blacks, unbeatable for two world cups and also the most consistently successful sports team in history. New Zealand also have very successful rowers and so in two high pressure sports the Kiwi's are considered the world's elite. I've started wondering how much does developmental environment play in this? And how does a country of 4.8 million produce such fine athletes so consistently?. Currently the all blacks have 3 brothers I the squad. Scott, Bauden and Jordie Barrett at points make up for 20% of the starting XI and between them have a better output than a lot of the smaller nations at RWC2019. Bauden is an IRB player of the year winner and I believe to be the single most gifted player I've ever watched. I believe this may be due to upbringing as children, factors that have helped them thrive in pressured environments. Hats off to the parents regardless but it makes you wonder, what was it about life in Taranaki that produced a family of Elite rugby players?

[@khairulamri4196]

Hello there,, I'm not a native speaker of English,, so could anybody please explain what the meaning of "edge" here is as in the phrase of "winning edge" Kinda missing the meaning of it Thx..

[@ecot7085]

Lebih kurang telur di hujung tanduk la synonym tu

[@imambux6354]

You already have "No". Try for "Yes".

[@ruairimclaughlin5075]

Hup

[@mak741]

The cricketer who's shown to perform poorly looks like Tim Paine. Lol, talk about coincidence!

[@prannoy8420]

Bring in a sports pyschologist or anyone, England is not winning cricket World Cup 😂

[@sadanandapatel6123]

Facts says india seeked the help of a sports psychologist to win the CRICKET WORLD CUP in 2011. So do some research before behaving MANNERLESSLY.

[@sadanandapatel6123]

By the way you can't understand that pressure because you are playing GULLY ( STREET ) cricket not PROFESSIONAL CRICKET. If you were, you definitely would have understood it.

[@someone5444]

wait 40-50 years we will make England a 90% Muslim majority country Inshallah!!

[@someone5444]

@High Plains Drifter yes brother we will make Britain 100% Muslim population.

[@TheMrAli96]

This aged well.

[@evaristegalois6282]

*_Instagram Egg_*

[@compound26]

She works on her PH.d and feels others are better than her? Wtf Edit: She should meet me she might end up saying she doesn't want to live anymore xD

[@divyanshujaiswal5959]

Can anybody explain me this shit in hindi language

[@SatyarthShankar]

I find too much of this nature of "study" creepy.

[@slasaus1]

2:07 yes its pressure u put on urself but the question is why are you judging urself and compare urself with others... coz you are using the wrong chamber in ur brain. This girl would hugely benefit from meditation.

[@nortontolis]

Who the f plays cricket LMAO

[@marlonmoncrieffe0728]

Hundreds of million in the nation of India alone.

[@nortontolis]

No one cares 🌈

[@UmbraHand]

Alpha Kapa Oh look another idiot in the internet. What are the odds?

[@abhishek0007india]

England formal colony Indian subcontinent they play only cricket.

[@arhanya8552]

Second richest sports league Indian premier league. A good player there can buy thousands of internet dolts like u....😂😂😂😂

[@tiffanyannlama2708]

What I think is important to point out is that the picture represents the common racial and sexist institutions we unfortunately still operate in. I would hope the Economist could do better. All I see here is privileged white men and the word winning. Please try to rise above the current paradigm Economist.

[@kgill99]

The Economist is a magazine that mainly sells to people of European origin in America and Europe (approximately 87% of its readers) and their global diaspora elsewhere (eg to Australia, Singapore, UAE etc). Thus it is pretty normally that the video shows mainly white athletes. Later in the video it goes to the best sports uni in the world, which as it is in a country which is 90% white, there are a significant number of white athletes. I'm not sure how you managed to miss the large segment on the female rowers but that's in the video too.

[@tiffanyannlama2708]

@@kgill99 I'm sorry but I do not buy the argument about who the audience is. Firstly audience enticement should be expansive not contractive. Secondly it would benefit the rich white demographic to have people of color, differently abled and other such populations highly represented otherwise it is a negative feedback loop of white entitlement and ideas of supremacy. Thirsty yes they showed women..hurrah. .it's sad we had to say..but look there's some women too.

[@ethancrowe280]

I feel like you're blowing this out of proportion more so than it needs to be. When it comes to the 'picture' of the video, it does represent the two sexes well by exampling and interviewing men and women. As for the racial equality, I cannot personally say, but I believe that it has to deal with simply the fact that white people are the majority make-up of the UK which is where this is based, and that other races are minorities.

[@ethancrowe280]

I also have no idea why you would phrase it as if women weren't even interviewed. You put in a way that makes it seem like women were only shown scarcely in the video just for the sake of them being there. Women and men were both shown equally well and got speaking points equally in length, not only men speaking and women only being shown.

[@arhanya8552]

I m an Indian and all too aware abt BBC and Guardian type propaganda. I have been reading Economist since college days in library as then it used to be very expensive. So I know them all too well. But seriously there r more important things that we can object to.

[@gamerleague2823]

So this vedio is telling only whites play sports not blacks brown or asian... These small details matters. economist you have to politically correct....