Olympic Resilience for Neurodivergents

I was watching the 2026 Winter Olympics figure skating and the commentators were discussing the immense amount of pressure on these athletes. As a neurodivergent person it made me think about how we deal with pressure on a daily basis; the fear of making a costly mistake, feeling extremely visible to the world and the desperation to perform at your best, to do what you know you are capable of.

So what can we learn about resilience from these athletes who are dealing with immense pressure to perform? How do they manage their nerves and adrenaline?

Make it familiar

The athletes often get an opportunity to practise in the arena or on the course where they will compete. Athletes who have already competed at international level or at an Olympic games may have a different comfort level to younger athletes gaining the experience of competing at the Olympics for the first time.

We can apply this in our own lives to help support our neurodivergent brains. Familiarising ourselves with an environment ahead of time can help us to visualise and prepare for what to expect.

Change the stakes/expectations of yourself

After retiring from the sport following the Beijing Olympics, Alysa Liu won gold in the women’s figure skating event at Milan. Alysa has been very open about how her previous Olympic experience had a negative impact on her mental health. This time around, her intention was to skate purely for herself and her performances were confident, energised and almost carefree ultimately winning her gold.

For neurodivergent individuals, the pressure of “performing” in any environment can be exhausting especially if we set unsustainable, unattainably high standards for ourselves. Learning how to best support our neurodivergent profiles can help us meet and even exceed our own expectations. 

Alysa Liu’s Olympic experience is inspiring because her goal was not to win a medal or to be the best but to do what was best for her; to experience the games in a way that made her happy. With these expectations set, no matter where she placed, she had already won before she set foot on the ice because her intention was to show up in the moment authentically as herself.

Be present

Several athletes this year mentioned wanting to have that moment during their performance or when they look out at the crowd to really feel present and appreciate that they made it to the Olympics.

Sometimes, being neurodivergent can mean we live too far in the future or we can find ourselves ruminating over the past. This can mean we struggle to be present but learning to exist in the moment, recognising how we feel and absorbing the sensory details can help us feel more grounded and self-aware.

Language = mentality

The athletes at the Winter Olympics who have set their sights on gold often use language like “I have to win” or “I’m not going home without a medal” whereas those more focused on their own personal journey and the privilege of participating in the games, may use language like “I’m so grateful to be here” or “With everything I’ve overcome, I’m proud of myself for getting here.” Those who have set conditions with their language can struggle with the outcome. Those using appreciative, self-supportive language are more likely to be resilient no matter the outcome.

We can apply this to ourselves by noticing when we say “I have to” or “I’m supposed to” or “I should be able to” and questioning why we are placing this pressure on ourselves with this language. Switching to more encouraging language: “I chose to be here” or “I get to do this” and verbally acknowledging when we’re proud of ourselves or grateful can have a huge impact on our mentality towards challenges, our self-esteem and emotional wellbeing. We need to know we are on our own team!

Your support network

At the Beijing Winter Olympics, due to COVID there were no audiences, many of the athletes struggled without their support network who could not travel to the events and the atmosphere was tense and serious. In contrast, the Milan Winter Olympics 2026 has felt celebratory. It has showcased the compassion and community between the athletes and served as a joyful reminder of what the Olympics is about at its heart: people coming together, brought together by a love of sport to perform on a world stage and inspire those around them and those watching. 

As neurodivergent individuals we can often feel driven to do things by ourselves but it is also okay to ask for a little help when we need to. Seeing the Olympic athletes credit their families, coaches, teams, fellow competitors and communities for the support they’ve received is a reminder that nothing is taken away from someone’s individual achievement by recognising their support network. As a fun exercise, imagine being interviewed, who would you want to shout out for being there and believing in you?

The resilient mindset

The mindset that seems to allow athletes to access their flow state and replicate what they’re capable of during training on a world stage is not necessarily a determination to win but a focus on their individual experience of the games. We can take elements of how athletes prepare to manage intense pressure: making things familiar, shifting expectations, being present, mindful of language and leaning on our support system, and apply them to our daily lives. 

Perhaps you’ll think of Alysa Liu who credited her ADHD for her performances and being able to return to the sport, Florence Brunelle the first speed skater with a limb difference to medal at the Olympics or perhaps it will be the stories of athletes yet to come at the Paralympic Games starting 6th March that will inspire you. The next time I feel stressed about a social event I might simply remind myself that at least I don’t have to go down the luge at 60+MPH head first! If the 2026 Winter Olympic Games has taught me anything it’s that we are all more resilient than we think!