As the Winter Olympic Games in Italy approach on 6 February, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) is helping its athletes focus on mental health, sleep, and resilience, rather than just medal counts.
Emily Clark, a clinical psychologist with USOPC, will guide athletes in understanding what it means to succeed at the Games. She is part of a 15-member team providing psychological support, covering topics including motivation, anxiety, anger management, eating disorders, trauma, depression, sleep, and managing pressure during travel.
“Most of the athletes who come through Team USA will not win a gold medal,” Clark said. “That’s the reality of elite sport.” She noted that in the last Winter Games in Beijing in 2022, the United States won nine gold medals.
Clark encourages athletes to focus on the process and enjoy the moment. “Your job is not to win a gold medal. Your job is to do the thing, and the gold medal is what happens when you do your job,” she said. She also stressed the importance of developing resilience in the face of setbacks. “We get stronger by pushing ourselves to our maximum capacity — and then recovering,” she explained.
The USOPC’s mental health services are credited by several athletes for contributing to their success. Paralympian Kendall Gretsch, who has won four gold medals across the Summer and Winter Games, said having a sports psychologist travel with the team helps her stay focused and remember why she competes.
American figure skater Alysa Liu, 2025 world champion and sixth in the 2022 Olympics, also praised her sports psychologist, referring to her as the “Most Valuable Psychologist” for the guidance provided throughout her training.
Sleep is another key area of focus for the US team. Clark highlighted challenges such as travel schedules, late practices, injuries, and personal responsibilities. “Sleep is the cornerstone of healthy performance,” she said, recommending seven to nine hours nightly, a dark room, a regular schedule, and avoiding caffeine after 3 p.m.
Dani Aravich, a two-time Paralympian competing in the upcoming Winter Paralympics, said tracking sleep has become essential to her performance. “Especially being an athlete who has multiple jobs, sleep is going to be your No. 1 saviour,” she said, noting that proper rest supports mental clarity and overall performance.
With about 235 athletes expected at the Winter Olympics and 70 at the Paralympics, the US team is putting equal emphasis on mental well-being and physical training. By prioritizing resilience, process, and recovery, athletes are preparing not only for medals but also for a sustainable approach to elite competition.ea
