The great achievements of high-performance athletes are often associated with long hours of training, personal sacrifices, and an iron discipline that has been a part of them for years.
However, behind many recognitions, medals, or historical rankings, there is a silent factor that rarely receives the attention it deserves: sports psychology. This discipline, increasingly recognized worldwide, focuses on understanding, supporting, and strengthening the athlete’s mind.
It is not only about addressing moments of crisis, but also about enhancing the mental capacities that allow them to perform at their best in pressure situations. The approach of a sports psychologist is different from other areas of psychology because athletes face a very specific context where emotions, competitiveness, and public exposure combine in a unique way.
A mental burden beyond the physical
In the life of an elite professional, the challenge isn’t limited to completing grueling workouts or strictly following a diet plan. The mental pressure is constant and comes from a variety of sources: fans, competitors, coaches, family members, partners, and even themselves. Every look, every expectation, and every result can become an additional burden that, if not managed properly, affects performance.
“External pressure, such as that exerted by the media and other factors, begins to create false expectations that don’t necessarily align with the athlete’s performance or goals. That’s why it’s important for athletes to learn to manage that pressure and control the external noise that will always be present,” said Eduardo Rubinstein, sports psychologist at Zenit Wellness & Sports.
Added to this are factors such as extensive travel, prolonged tournaments, injuries, losing streaks, or anxiety before a final. All of these elements create an emotional burden that, if not addressed with appropriate strategies, can be decisive in an athlete’s career.
“Psychology helps you find tools to manage pressure, control your nerves, feel better prepared, and enter competitions with more confidence,” said Costa Rican fencer Karina Dyner.
His testimony reflects a reality shared by many high-level professionals: that mental training is just as important as physical training when seeking to reach the elite.
The Costa Rican Scenario
In countries with a greater sporting tradition, psychological support often begins in early years. While in other countries, children and young people receive tools from an early age to manage pressure, strengthen concentration, and develop resilience, in Costa Rica this culture is still growing.
Even so, in recent years, there has been a significant opening, as several Costa Rican athletes have discovered that working with specialists in this area can make a difference, not only in the outcome of a competition, but also in their overall well-being.
From Olympic athletes like Kenneth Tencio (BMX) and Luciana Alvarado (gymnastics), to high-level professionals like María Paula Alfaro (artistic swimming) and José Pablo Gil (adapted tennis), athletes are among those who have incorporated sports psychology as a tool to improve and sustain their performance.
Techniques and Tools for Competing with a Clear Mind
Among the main strategies applied in sports psychology are visualization, which trains the mind to anticipate competitive scenarios and routines, and concentration, which helps filter out external distractions and focus on the task at hand.
“These are widely used techniques in sports psychology. By recreating an image, our entire nervous system, including the brain, is activated, and the goal is to create neural pathways. Added to this is concentration, which corresponds to more behavioral and repeatable techniques among athletes. However, for elite professionals, the key lies in their capacity for self-management and discernment,” said Laura Moreira, sports psychologist.
Both tools allow athletes to maintain focus and respond more robustly in high-pressure situations.
Sports psychology has been progressively gaining ground around the world. What was once seen as a luxury or a secondary option is now recognized as one of the pillars of a professional’s comprehensive training in their discipline.
“This role is growing rapidly, and I would say that in the last two years it has gained significant exposure and greater acceptance from various stakeholders in the sports context,” Rubinstein commented.
Over the years, professionals dedicated to this specialty have become more specialized and capable of serving not only elite athletes, but also promising young athletes and people seeking to improve their performance in different areas of physical activity. Sports psychology isn’t seen in statistics or league tables, but it is often the silent driving force behind exceptional performance.
