The mental strain of elite athletes during the Olympics

Play
Stop
 
 
Image from Cloudfront

Japanese judo star Uta Abe’s emotional outburst after her unexpected second-round went viral in the Paris 2024 Olympics, highlighting the intense mental strain athletes face.

As the defending Olympic champion in the women’s under-52kg competition, her defeat was a significant blow, outlining the pressure of the high-stakes competition.

The Wire spoke with professor of psychology at Melbourne University Dr Courtney Walton about the changes for athletics mental health since the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

(Visited 38 times, 1 visits today)
Download Audio

The Wire is produced in partnership by

Contributor Stations

Supporters and Program Distribution