Citius, altius, fortius: if only it were that simple [Keynote]

Citius, altius, fortius: if only it were that simple [Keynote]

The tripartite motto of the Olympic Games, translated from the Latin into English as Faster, Higher, Stronger, may adequately summarise the essential physical challenge of elite competition but it does not come close to capturing the complexities of the Olympic experience. The Olympic Games is, for most competitors, a unique sporting experience that will come their way only once. The pressure to produce optimal performance is immense but the extensive list of Olympic stressors can be daunting for athletes, officials and support staff. Issues associated with travel, security, equipment, family, accreditation, homesickness, team dynamics, time management, media intrusion, social networking, accommodation, local transport, nutrition, illness or injury have all to be navigated before competition stress even comes into play. The purpose of this presentation is to combine inferences from the salient scientific literature with lessons learned at eight Olympic Games to provide a framework for understanding Olympic stressors and associated adaptive coping strategies. Use of mentoring, planning for the unexpected, mood management, simulation, competition routines, social support, sources of inspiration, and crisis intervention are addressed in the context of the Olympic environment.