Australian soccer players arrived in Paris aiming for their first Olympic medal, but hope was dashed with a loss to the United States. Despite lacking star striker Sam Kerr, the Matildas, who finished fourth in the 2023 FIFA World Cup, were medal contenders but failed to advance past the group stage. This was a significant setback—how do athletes, and others disappointed in Paris, recover from these letdowns? Every four years, billions watch the dedication and skill of Olympians and Paralympians. Those competing in Paris 2024 have put years of dedication into their performances. Many perform well, with some achieving their goal of winning a medal. Others leave the games feeling they didn’t reach their full potential when it mattered most, leading to deep disappointment. Notably, swimmer Cate Campbell faced this after her results in Rio and endured significant public criticism from Australians.
Research indicates athletes often experience reduced well-being upon returning from the Olympics, including feelings of loneliness, disappointment, and lack of direction. Olympic disappointment is tough because athletes’ personal identities are closely linked with their performance; after years of being regarded primarily as athletes, many feel their worth as individuals hinges on their performance. The mental health challenges athletes face are recognized, with Australian research showing athletes experience mental health issues at rates similar to or higher than the general population. Major performance disappointments contribute to these challenges. Compounding this, many athletes cope with disappointment through self-criticism, which can include harsh self-assessments leading to feelings of unworthiness and inferiority. Self-criticism is often viewed as essential for removing weaknesses and encouraging improvement.
However, research consistently shows self-criticism is linked to symptoms of mental health issues. Moreover, harsh self-judgment is less effective at encouraging growth and development. Athletes, like everyone else, need alternative ways to handle inevitable setbacks. Emerging research and practice suggest self-compassion could be valuable. Compassion involves sensitivity to suffering in oneself and others, with a commitment to alleviate it, whether directed at others or oneself (self-compassion). For athletes experiencing post-Olympic distress, self-compassion involves addressing rather than avoiding or critiquing distress, focusing on what is needed to address it, though this is challenging. Self-compassion is difficult because it opposes many self-motivation methods athletes have learned. Many athletes worry that self-compassion will lower their standards, but studies show it can drive self-improvement, and athletes with higher self-compassion report positive sports performance. In contrast to self-criticism, more self-compassionate athletes typically experience better mental health and respond more helpfully to disappointment.
Consequently, sport and clinical psychology increasingly focus on fostering self-compassion in athletes as a resilience resource. How can athletes and others develop self-compassion? Several methods exist. A useful start is using inner wisdom to provide oneself with the compassion one would offer a friend in a similar situation. Consider asking: “How would I respond to a close friend in this scenario?” Other techniques aim to elicit soothing bodily responses, beneficial to both psychology and physiology. For instance, altering the tone of inner thoughts and outward facial expressions from neutral or hostile to friendly. Additional practices involve visualization to cultivate a “compassionate self,” which one can learn to embody.
These approaches form the foundation of compassionate mind training and compassion-focused therapy, shown to reduce depression and self-criticism. Thus, athletes can offer themselves the necessary support to endure Olympic and Paralympic disappointment. Equally vital is receiving compassion from others. After her Rio setback, Cate Campbell noted, “Australians love winners—I felt the only way to gain public favor was to win a gold medal.” Therefore, during and after these Olympic and Paralympic Games, supporting our athletes, irrespective of their results, is crucial.