But as she lay in her hospital bed, Emily received a visit from her teammate and friend, Rachel. Rachel had been through her own share of injuries and setbacks, and she knew exactly what Emily was going through.
It was an injury she had been struggling with for months – a stress fracture in her tibia that had been aggravated by the intense training regimen required to compete at the Olympic level. Emily had been pushing through the pain, convinced that she could overcome it, but now, as she stood on the beam, she wasn't so sure. olympic pain
Elite athletes do not necessarily feel less pain than others; rather, they process it differently. Research indicates that Olympians often possess: But as she lay in her hospital bed,
Physical, Psychological, and Emotional Suffering in the Olympic Games Subject: Sports Science, Psychology, Media Studies, and Ethics Emily had been pushing through the pain, convinced
Perhaps the most dangerous pain is the one that arrives two months after the closing ceremony. Psychologists call it "Post-Olympic Depression."
"You are more than your body," Rachel said, her voice filled with conviction. "You are a strong, capable, and talented athlete, and you have so much to offer. Don't let this injury define you. You are still an Olympic gymnast, no matter what happens next."