How Olympic Athletes Cope With Imposter Syndrome

Making it to the Olympics is the ultimate experience for athletes. The best of the best compete to represent their countries on a global stage. But despite having objective evidence of their talent, drive, and hard work, even the greatest Olympians can battle imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome is characterized by self-doubt, and it can lead to fear of failure, perfectionism, and the need to be the best. It often goes hand in hand with someone’s inability to accept their competence and capability, which seems counterintuitive for world-class athletes. How can someone who qualified for the Olympics question their skills, after all? But Olympic athletes can and do experience imposter syndrome, and for a first timer, these feelings can be even stronger.

We spoke to four first-time Olympians on their experiences with imposter syndrome — and how they’re showing up and keeping all their doubts in check during the Games.

“Leading up to the Olympics, someone said to me ‘Be where your feet are.’ When he said that, I was like, ‘Wow, like I’m really here. I’m really here doing this.’

“‘The Four Agreements’ has [also] helped me with staying out of that imposter syndrome. [They are]: Don’t take anything personal. Don’t make assumptions. Do your best. And be impeccable with your word. I have no choice but to be in this moment. After all, I put myself here. When I observe all these things, I realize that I’m here doing my thing, and I’m good.

“Leading up to competition, I’m also just taking it one day at a time, focusing on the day and battling and having my rounds prepared and just drilling them every day. I’m also listening to my body and making sure I’m resting. That will help with my mood and anxiety as I get ready to compete. I’m also envisioning myself there. I’m already there.”

“Leading up to the Olympics has kind of been business as usual. However, I’m focusing on honing in on the one or two percent that can help me be better. The hay is in the barn, and there’s only so much left that I can do to gain physical fitness. Everything else is going to be made in sleeping and nutrition and mental preparation, emotional preparation.

“I think I’ve gotten to a point where I remember that I belong here. I feel like having the last two years making world teams and World Finals and being the top American all really helps. I don’t compare myself to others on the line, or panic because they’re incredible athletes .Instead I look at that line and think, ‘I have awesome people to run with.’ I think it’s more so just focusing on yourself rather than what everyone else is doing.”

“2020 was when I started taking my mental health seriously. That’s when I really started opening up about all of my anxiety. I had a ton of performance anxiety, and I wish I would have understood where that was coming from sooner. I realized that it was coming from me attaching my worth to my performance, and once I started working through that, my anxiety itself kind of dimmed a little bit more. I wish I would have done some mental toughness training and sport psychology.

“I read a book once that asked ‘Do you think Olympians don’t believe in themselves? Do you think Olympians cry?’ I remember reading [that] being like, ‘Well, I sure hope they do because I do all the time.’ I’ve always wanted to just get out the message that it’s so normal to be afraid and to get that anxiety. That’s why you have to work on remembering your worth. This is what you do, this is not who you are. That can be hard, but if you think about what your strengths are, and then you execute on your strengths, it kind of takes you out of that fear of failure.

“I’m 33 years old, and this is my third attempt [at] making an Olympic team and I’ve officially been doing track for 20 years. It took me 20 years to get here. You stay healthy and you stay consistent and anything can happen.”

“I’ll be racing for Team Canada. The Canadian Athletics team is in a town just outside Barcelona at a final training camp to help acclimate to the heat and adjust to jet lag before heading into Paris. I’m out of my element, so I try to control what I can and know I’ve put in the work so when it’s time to race, I’ll be ready to go.

“I find confidence in knowing all the work that’s gone into making this dream a reality. The Games are a time to celebrate all sports and bring people together from around the world. I can’t wait to experience the Olympic magic firsthand.”

Tonya Russell is a New Jersey-based writer specializing in wellness, running, and travel.