from our Optimisticles blog series
By Wes Kilgore, Well Beings
When Simone Biles, the world’s most decorated gymnast, withdrew from multiple events at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, citing a case of “the twisties,” it sent shockwaves through the sporting world. Biles’ decision to prioritize her mental health over the pursuit of medals was a powerful statement that echoed beyond gymnastics. Her experience with the twisties—a mental block that disrupts a gymnast’s spatial awareness—opened up a broader conversation about the mental health challenges that elite athletes face.
The courage shown by athletes like Biles, Naomi Osaka, and Michael Phelps, who have all candidly discussed their experiences with mental health, has led to increased awareness and improved access to mental health resources for athletes and Olympians. Their openness has shed light on the invisible battles that many athletes face, leading to a greater understanding of the unique psychological hurdles in sports. Here are five performance-inhibiting conditions that, despite some of their cutesy nicknames, can have devastatingly debilitating effects on elite athletes and sportsmen.
The Twisties: Losing Control in Mid-Air
The “twisties” are a particularly frightening phenomenon for gymnasts. This mental block occurs when an athlete loses their sense of space and direction while performing mid-air twists and flips. It’s as though the body and mind disconnect, leaving the gymnast disoriented and vulnerable to injury. For a sport that demands precision and control, the twisties can be devastating.
Simone Biles’ withdrawal from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 highlighted the severity of this condition. The twisties are not just a matter of feeling “off”; they represent a complete loss of control that can turn a routine maneuver into a potentially dangerous situation. Biles’ decision to step back rather than push through the twisties was a bold move that underscored the importance of mental health and safety in sports.
Target Panic: The Archery Dilemma
In the world of archery and shooting sports, “target panic” is a well-known, though rarely discussed, issue. This condition manifests as a sudden inability to release the arrow or pull the trigger smoothly, even though the athlete has done so countless times before. Target panic is a form of performance anxiety that can strike unexpectedly, leaving the archer or shooter frozen at the critical moment.
Target panic is particularly frustrating because it often defies logic. The archer knows how to shoot, understands the mechanics, and has practiced the shot many times. Yet, when target panic strikes, the mind intervenes, causing hesitation and uncertainty. Overcoming target panic requires retraining the brain, often with the help of mental coaches or sports psychologists.
The Yips: The Curse of Consistency
“The yips” is a term that haunts golfers, baseball players, and even some cricketers. It describes a sudden and unexplained loss of fine motor skills, typically affecting simple, routine actions like putting or throwing. A golfer might find themselves missing easy putts, or a baseball player might struggle to throw accurately to first base. The yips are as mysterious as they are debilitating, often striking at the peak of an athlete’s career.
What makes the yips so challenging is that they are often self-perpetuating. The more an athlete worries about the yips, the more likely they are to experience them. This creates a cycle of anxiety and poor performance. Addressing the yips often involves mental training, relaxation techniques, and sometimes even a change in technique or equipment to reset the athlete’s mental state.
Dartitis: The Thrower’s Nightmare
In the sport of darts, “dartitis” is a dreaded condition where the player struggles to release the dart, often due to a mental block similar to the yips. Dartitis can make a simple throw feel impossible, as the player’s arm freezes or moves awkwardly. This condition can be career-ending for professional dart players, as it disrupts their rhythm and consistency.
Dartitis is particularly perplexing because it typically strikes players who have been throwing darts with precision for years. The sudden onset of dartitis can be devastating, leading to frustration, embarrassment, and a significant drop in performance. Overcoming dartitis usually requires mental conditioning, a change in routine, or even a break from the sport to reset the mind.
Elvis Leg: The Climber’s Shaky Struggle
For rock climbers, “Elvis leg” is an all-too-familiar foe. This term refers to the involuntary shaking of a climber’s leg, usually due to a combination of fatigue, fear, and adrenaline. The leg quivers uncontrollably, making it difficult to maintain a steady grip and balance on the rock face.
Elvis leg can strike even the most experienced climbers, especially when they are pushing their limits or facing a particularly challenging route. The phenomenon is named for the way the leg shakes, reminiscent of Elvis Presley’s signature dance moves. While it can be humorous in hindsight, Elvis leg can be unnerving and dangerous in the moment, disrupting focus and increasing the risk of a fall.
These terms represent just a few of the mental blocks that athletes must navigate in their careers. While each of these conditions manifests differently, they all highlight the critical role that mental health plays in athletic performance. The conversation around mental health in sports is evolving and beginning to emphasize the need for greater support, understanding, and resources, ensuring that future athletes have the tools they need to overcome these psychological hurdles and perform at their best.
About the Author
Wes Kilgore is a writer, musician and bon vivant based in the Washington, DC area, and the proud parent of two disturbingly well-adjusted young women and two borderline sociopathic Corgis.