Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviours: Are athlete’s at risk?

How often do we question why an athlete performs the same pre-competition routine, or carries out the same number of reps during training? These may simply be harmless superstitions and routines, however, they do potentially have the ability to manifest into something detrimental to performance.....

....In the past, there has been talk of several cases of top-tier athletes having to withdraw from Olympic competitions due to debilitating OCD symptoms (Aldhous, 2009). For example, the high profile case of Canadian diver Kelly MacDonald is an example of how these routine obsessions and compulsions can inevitably wreak havoc with an athlete’s career. It was originally reported that MacDonald had been “side-lined with injuries” when she appeared absent from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. However, in 2009, it was revealed that obsessive-compulsive disorder had prevented her from competing and that her pre-dive routine of “clearing her throat, tapping her leg and blinking at certain steps on her approach had eventually left her stuck on the diving board, unable to calm down.”

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Bethany`s Notes
Notes: When repetition becomes essential and overbearing help is needed. This can happen in life and also in sport. Pre-competition routines have their place for focus and habit but flexibility is essential and sometimes necessary.