Handling the Spotlight: Public Pressure and Athletic Performance

From front-page headlines to viral clips, modern athletes perform under more than just physical pressure—they face relentless public attention. While the spotlight can energize performance, it can also create identity strain, anxiety, and distraction. In this post, we break down how media and public scrutiny impact performance and explore the mental strategies athletes use to reframe, reset, and refocus—so they can thrive under pressure instead of buckle beneath it.