BU Today: Concerned about containing the COVID-19 pandemic, Japanese organizers and the International Olympic Committee have banned all spectators at the Summer Games. How could this rule affect an athlete’s emotions and psyche while competing?

Edson Filho: We know from research that what we call “audience effects” can either facilitate or debilitate performance in different sports. Having an audience can enhance performance (a process known as “social facilitation”) by increasing motivation, energy recruitment and expenditure, and concentration, while not having an audience may lead to lower motivation and effort and “social loafing” in team sports. However, having an audience may also lead to what we call “choking under pressure,” as athletes are more likely to get distracted or experience anxiety when performing in front of people, especially at high-stakes events, such as the Olympics. The truth is there is no simple answer to this question because human behavior is complex and multidimensional. Performance in athletic events is a by-product of the person, the environment, and the task. Athletes need to be mentally prepared to cope with the challenges that an audience, or lack thereof, will inevitably create.

BU Today: For athletes used to feeding off the adrenaline from performing before crowds, how can they best prepare for the Games without the energy of fans in the stadiums? Is it likely to change any of their usual game-day preparations?

Edson Filho: Athletes must focus on what they can control. With or without an audience, athletes must prioritize their mental game and ideally should arrive mentally healthy and strong for the Olympic Games. Psychological skills training (PST) includes teaching athletes mental and life skills, such as goal setting, imagery, relaxation, attentional regulation, communication, mindfulness, and recovery-stress balance. In a nutshell, the ultimate goal of PST is to provide athletes with the ability to self-regulate (manage their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors), be very confident (“I can and I will” mentality), and develop an unshakable belief that they can cope with any adversity thrown their way while remaining positive (i.e., mental toughness). It is important to say that not all athletes have access to PST. Hopefully, this will change in the years to come. We need to be talking about mental health and teaching mental and life skills to athletes of all levels and people from all walks of life.

BU Today: Could the public’s resistance towards this summer’s Olympic Games on a global and local level—primarily driven by safety concerns—impact athletes’ emotions and motivation to compete? Could this lack of support impact performance?

Edson Filho: The short answer is yes, and I say that is simply because COVID-19 has impacted us all. I know there is some emerging research on the impact of COVID-19 on athletes’ psychological well-being, and, in turn, we know that psychological well-being impacts performance. We also know that this pandemic has highlighted how important research and evidence-based practice is to inform decision-making at all levels. Therefore, to be able to better understand the impact of this pandemic on athletes’ psychological well-being and performance, we will need to look at the results, records, and psychological research emerging from the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

BU Today: In addition to pandemic-related stress, Olympic athletes face a balancing act between intense stress management and self-confidence. Their life’s work can ultimately come down to just a few fleeting moments throughout the competition. Can you talk about how athletes balance these two competing forces?

Edson Filho: Athletes need to be able to cope and recover from biological, psychological, and social stress. We know stress is an imbalance between the bio-psycho-social environmental demands and one’s ability to cope. If this imbalance goes on for too long, athletes are likely to get injured, experience mental health issues, and likely burn out. That is exactly why mental health support and PST are an important part of an athlete’s preparation. This said, it is important to clarify that anxiety is different from stress, by definition. Anxious athletes cannot be in the present moment as they occupy their minds with feelings of apprehension and fear of failure. We also know that anxiety and confidence are, in a sense, opposite sides of the same coin. The more confident someone is, the less anxious they are likely to be. In some Olympic sports, the difference between a gold medal and no medal is minimal (e.g., a fraction of a second), so mental readiness is key to successful performance. Sport psychologists help athletes to learn how to cope with somatic and cognitive anxiety and how to become more confident. PST should be a priority, and there is no magic formula for it. It takes time and work for someone to become confident and able to cope with different sources of stress.

BU Today: What can athletes do to stay in the moment and remain focused?

Edson Filho: Developing a strong sense of self, life and performance values, practicing with purpose, and cultivating a growth and learning mindset are some key ingredients that will allow athletes to stay in the moment and excel. On a more practical note, we explain athletes’ ability to perform at peak level by using the “toolbox analogy.” A performer’s mind is like a toolbox, and the more tools they have in it, the better they can feel and perform. Adding tools to your mental toolbox involves learning about self-talk, effective goal-setting, challenge mindset, attentional control strategies, and mindfulness practices, to name but a few. Again, PST takes time and requires hard work. Athletes from all levels should prioritize their mental game and seek advice from qualified consultants to help them stay in the moment and focus on the core actions that will lead to successful performance.