We all feel nervous before big events in our work lives — a high-stakes presentation at work, a difficult conversation with a colleague. But what if those moments were amplified on the world stage, and your entire performance was riding on a once-in-every-four-years opportunity? Yeah, we think we'd be freaking out, too. Ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, we were curious how women athletes prepare for the anxiety and pressure of it all.
So we asked tennis star Coco Gauff , artistic swimmer Anita Alvarez , and several other current and former Team USA members about their prep, tips, and tricks. From "color breathing" to watching anime, here's what they said about how they keep their nerves in check ahead of some of the biggest moments in their careers. Nikita Ducarroz, BMX Freestyle I have a lot of emotions before I compete.
Definitely a lot of nerves, excitement, anticipation . . .
I feel everything! I want to get things right, I'm excited to show everyone what I've been working on, and there's also the fear of not landing my run. I just try to keep communicating with my team so I can let them out and not hold things in, as well as use the proper tools to help stay in the zone. I use visualization, music, breathing techniques, and just keeping the fun vibes alive to keep my nerves in check.
There are some times when it's important to step away from all the noise and use those tools to quiet my mind, and sometimes you just have to have some laughs with your friends (.