By: Elle Shi, Grade 7
In sports, it’s common to focus on your opponent. However, most athletes agree that one of the true challenges you face are the conditions surrounding you, both mental and physical.
For example, one of the most powerful factors of a game’s outcome is the athlete’s own mind. Things like pressure and self-doubt can determine the result before it actually happens. A runner nearing the finish line may feel their body losing strength. This happens not because of the pressure of another runner but when their mind says that they cannot do it. Therefore, mental stability is just as important and the physical counterpart.
Beyond the mental game, environmental conditions also play a major role. Weather can dramatically affect performance, sometimes leveling the playing field or making it even more unpredictable. In ball-sports like tennis or golf, strong winds can alter the trajectory of the ball, forcing athletes to adapt quicker. Extreme heat or cold can drain energy and test endurance. In these moments, the sport is not between the athletes, it’s a game to see who can adapt first. Recently, tennis player Jannik Sinner had a “meltdown” after playing in the 90 degree weather in Paris. This surprised everyone, especially because he was ranked no. 1 seed prior to his loss in the second round. He was said to be having cramps and played laboriously.
Ultimately, sports are not just contests of skill, but tests of adaptability and perseverance. While the mindset to compete against an opponent provides the structure of what is to be done, it’s the mental or physical conditions of the athlete that shapes their outcomes. What follows that is the definition of a victory, overcoming everything that stands in the way from within and beyond first.
