As the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina approached, athletes from around the world put the finishing touches on years of physical preparation. But a West Virginia University graduate student and certified mental performance consultant says the difference between reaching the podium and disappointment may come down to mastering their minds.
More than 3,500 athletes from 93 countries will compete for 195 medals when the Games open on February 6, according to the International Olympic Committee.
Luca Ziegler, a graduate student in sport, exercise and performance psychology and clinical mental health counseling at the WVU College of Applied Human Sciences, said athletes have to stay aware and engaged under pressure, whether they’re competing on the world stage or in a local match. That psychological flexibility helps shape their performance.
“Psychological flexibility is the ability to do what is most meaningful to us, even in the presence of unpleasant feelings,” Ziegler said. “For athletes like Olympians, that means playing their sport the way they want to, even when pressure or anxiety arise.”
The mental demands at the Olympic level are immense. Athletes like figure skater Ilia Malinin, who is the only skater ever to land a quadruple Axel in competition, and alpine skiing legend Mikaela Shiffrin, a five-time World Cup overall champion, must perform technically demanding routines while managing the weight of national expectations.
Ziegler said psychological flexibility helps athletes stop wasting energy fighting their emotions.
“By accepting unpleasant emotions, Olympic athletes not only perform better but are more likely to experience optimal mental states like ‘flow,’ when performance feels effortless,” Ziegler said.
But that mental edge doesn’t come naturally — it requires practice.
“Our research shows that psychological flexibility doesn’t just happen — we have to train it,” Ziegler said. “Certified mental performance consultants can help athletes and coaches develop these skills.”
And when the stakes are highest, maintaining that flexibility becomes even more challenging.
“It becomes more difficult to be psychologically flexible when emotions run high, as they do at the Olympics,” Ziegler said. “The question isn’t just how big the stage is — it’s how big the stage feels to the athlete. That perception determines how challenging it will be to stay open and engaged.”
The 2026 Winter Olympics will run through February 22, with the closing ceremonies held at the ancient Roman amphitheater Verona Arena.
