At a Glance
- Only 9.2% of U.S. Winter Olympians in 2022 won gold medals
- 70.8% of Olympic athletes compete in only one Games
- Redefining success beyond medals is critical for mental health
- Why it matters: Athletes face extreme pressure and need psychological tools to handle inevitable failure
The Winter Olympics opening on February 6 in Italy will feature about 235 American athletes chasing glory, but clinical psychologist Emily Clark has a sobering message: most won’t win gold, and that’s perfectly normal.
Clark, part of a 15-member mental health staff with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, helps athletes redefine success beyond medals. Her work focuses on the harsh reality that defines elite sport.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
The United States won gold medals in nine events at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games. With hundreds of athletes competing, the math is brutal.
“Most of the athletes who come through Team USA will not win a gold medal,” Clark told James O Connor Fields. “That’s the reality of elite sport.”
According to Olympic historian Dr. Bill Mallon, 70.8% of Winter and Summer Olympic athletes compete in only one Games. Unlike household names like Michael Phelps, Mikaela Shiffrin, or Lindsey Vonn, most competitors remain anonymous.
Redefining Success Under Pressure
Clark’s mission involves helping athletes develop resilience when facing inevitable setbacks. She emphasizes process over outcomes.
“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 explained.
The psychological services team addresses multiple challenges:
- Motivation issues
- Anxiety and depression
- Eating disorders
- Family problems
- Trauma recovery
- Pressure management
- Travel stress
“Some of this might be realigning what success looks like,” Clark noted. “And some of this is developing resilience in the face of setbacks and failure.”
Athletes Speak Out on Mental Health
Multiple Olympians credit psychological support for their success.
Kendall Gretsch, who has won four gold medals across Summer and Winter Paralympics, values having a sports psychologist travel with the team.
“Just being able to touch base with them… and getting that reminder of why are you here. What is that experience you’re looking for?” she said.
Alysa Liu, the 2025 world champion figure skater who finished sixth in the 2022 Olympics, calls her sports psychologist “the MVP” – meaning “Most Valuable Psychologist.”
“She’s incredible,” Liu added. “She’s very helpful.”
The Sleep Crisis
Clark identifies sleep as a critical yet overlooked performance factor. Athletes struggle with rest due to:
- Demanding travel schedules
- Late practice sessions
- Injury recovery
- Life stress
- Parenting responsibilities
“We approach sleep as a real part of performance,” Clark emphasized. “But it can be something that gets de-prioritized when days get busy.”
Her recommendations include:
- No caffeine after 3 p.m.
- Stress management before bedtime
- Consistent sleep scheduling
- Dark sleeping environments
- 7-9 hours of sleep nightly
Dani Aravich, a two-time Paralympian competing in both Summer and Winter Games, tracks her sleep religiously.
“Sleep is going to be your No. 1 savior at all times,” she said. “It helps mental clarity.”
The Vonn Approach
Lindsey Vonn, racing in her sixth Olympics at age 41 after nearly six years in retirement, takes a different approach. Despite suggestions she should see a psychologist for returning to downhill skiing’s dangerous speeds of 80 mph, she relies on self-coaching.
“I just did it myself,” Vonn said. “I do a lot of self-talk in the starting gate.”
She tapes motivational messages to her ski tips: “stay forward or hands up.”
Building Mental Strength
Clark emphasizes that athletes grow stronger through challenges, not despite them.
“We get stronger by pushing ourselves to a limit where we’re at our maximum capacity – and then recovering,” she explained.
The key involves maintaining focus under pressure while accepting that failure is part of growth.
“When we get stressed, it impacts our attention,” Clark noted. “Staying on task or staying in line with what’s important is what we try to train for.”
The Once-in-a-Lifetime Moment
With the Italy Games approaching, Clark’s message to athletes remains consistent: embrace the experience regardless of outcome.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance,” she tells Olympians and Paralympians. “Focus on the process. Savor the moment.”
The United States will send approximately 70 additional athletes to the Paralympics following the Olympics.
For Clark and her team, success isn’t measured in medals but in athletes’ ability to perform their best while maintaining mental well-being in sport’s most pressure-filled environment.
Key Takeaways
- Olympic success extends far beyond winning gold medals
- Mental health services are essential for athlete well-being
- Sleep and stress management directly impact performance
- Most Olympic athletes compete only once, making the experience precious regardless of outcome
