What makes elite athletes thrive or dive under pressure? | The Economist

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 @DXC Technology Click here to subscribe to The Economist on YouTube: Sponsored by DXC Technology. 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 o