After the 1996 Olympics were over, after her big press tour had ended, Amy Van Dyken went grocery shopping. In the cereal aisle, the six-time gold medalist swimmer saw herself smiling back at her from the rows of Wheaties boxes on the shelves. “I remember just standing there, looking at it, and being like, ‘That’s […]
Professional golfer Alena Sharp started getting “the yips” whenever she would try to putt. She experienced severe anxiety and physical tension that crept up her arms and into her jaw. So she started using a technique called “quiet eye,” which not only improved her aim but also helped her calm her body and mind. In […]
This year, karate finally joins other martial arts like judo, taekwondo and wrestling at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. The athletes, called karatekas, will compete in one of two disciplines: the kata or the kumite. In this video, USA Karate Federation referee Cleveland Baxter explains the difference between the two disciplines, how they are judged […]
Sport climbing is making its debut at the Olympic Games this year. To win a medal, 20 men and 20 women will each compete in three separate events: lead, speed and boulder. To explain what differentiates the three events, what all the climbing lingo means and what it will take to win gold, Tokyo Olympics […]
Sport climbers have a lot to worry about during competition: the difficulty of the climb, the risk of falling, the distractions from spectators and the speed of their opponent. But Olympic climber Alannah Yip has found a way to work through her anxiety using a mindfulness technique called “color breathing.” This practice helps her get […]