Competing with Self-Control
“Do you know that in a race all runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we imperishable one” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25).
We were in the second week of the Olympics, one of my favorite sporting events. I witnessed a lot with the Tokyo Olympics 2020/21 in light of the post-pandemic lifestyle.
Since I was a little girl I grew up watching the Olympics. I really got into basketball, track and field, and water sports (especially swimming). My favorite part was getting to watch the sports I wouldn’t normally watch in the four-year timespan between each summer Olympics. I always look forward to seeing the greatest athletes in the world coming together to compete in their respective sports.
As a kid and even now, I have admired the fitness abilities of these athletes— strength, speed, power, endurance. In some aspects this inspired my desire to play sports and fitness. The mental toughness of these athletes impressed me the most. While the body is capable of competing in a triathlon or doing flips on the balance beam, it’s the mental toughness that enables them to compete at the highest level especially in the midst of adversity.
A lot of mixed responses and feelings were expressed towards Simone Biles’s decision to step back from some of her gymnastics. In some cases, it would make sense to challenge her mental toughness, but this was not one of those cases. Yes, this was unfortunate, but at the same time the impact of competing in the Olympics (as the best in your particular sport) at the highest level, mental stress and anxiety become factors to consider. In normal circumstances this is an area of concern, even more necessary to consider in light of the pandemic challenges that were out of the norm for the Olympics (i.e. empty stands, limited family being present).
In normal Olympic circumstances, the stands would be filled with people, to include family members and close friends of the respective athletes. Unfortunately, the support of the crowd and loved ones being expressed virtually is just not the same as if they were there in person. These were some factors to consider in regards to the athletes’ mental health for the 2020/21 Olympics in Tokyo.
Yes, as an American it would have been great to witness Simone Biles bring home an abundant wealth of Olympic medals that go around. At the same time, her mental health and overall health was much more important to her as an individual and the rest of Team USA.
Note: I am not a mental health professional or expert, but as a certified personal trainer and certified health and life coach I would like to provide some input on the impact mental health can have on our physical fitness.
According to NASM, mental stress or anxiety can cause elevated resting heart rate, blood pressure, and ventilation at rest and exercise. In addition, it can lead to abnormal (dysfunctional) breathing patterns that may cause postural or musculoskeletal imbalances in the neck, shoulder, chest, and low-back muscles, which collectively can lead to postural and dysfunction in the body’s nervous, muscular, and skeletal systems (keep in mind what gymnasts use in their sport). When one of these systems is imbalanced it affects all of them, and can lead to potential injury.
In other words, mental health struggles hinder the body’s ability to move and perform in the way it is designed to do so. Simone Biles’ decision to address her mental health was necessary for her physical health and ability to compete safely. Just as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians, there is an imperishable wreath to compete for— one that calls for our self-control in all things. Even Olympic athletes can compete aimlessly for the purpose of effective competition and avoid injury.
The good news is Simone Biles came back to compete in the Balance Beam Competition. I am beyond grateful that she turned out okay, and enjoyed witnessing strong performance and finish for the 2020-2021 Tokyo Olympics.