Olympic Pressure

"Pressure! Pushing down on me. Pushing down on you . . ."



-From "Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie.



Just decided to chime in briefly on a few small things I took note of during the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.



I'll admit that I didn't get too excited about the Winter Olympics in general. I never do. However, there were a few stories I began to follow after certain events unfolded. These events all had one common theme: pressure.



First, as I am living in South Korea. One can't help but notice the stardom of world champion and now gold medalist figure skater, Kim Yu Na. Her image has been blazed all over the country due to her 2009 World Championship among many other victories. She was the heavy favorite to win gold in Vancouver. It seemed she alone carried the burden of representing the entire country of Korea. Korea has a population of over 40 million, but it's still a relatively small country compared to other Olympic heavyweights. Aside from the less popular speed skaters, Yuna was country's only hope for a gold medal. Along with that pressure of national pride, there were also millions of dollars in endorsements at stake - dollars she could lose if one of her Japanese rivals would happen to take gold instead. In Asia, the rivalry between Korea and Japan needs no explanation.



As a result of Kim Yu-Na hype, my disinterest turned to curiousity to see how she would fare having to face not only skating opponents, but the pressure of an anxious nation. Pressure that other athletes likely weren't facing. Of course, she seemed to brush off the pressure like piece of dangling lint. She skated her very best, and not only won gold, but shattered a world record in the process. What pressure?



Secondly, probably the only winter olympic sport I will take strong interest in is ice hockey, but only if the USA is playing. Not having a chance to see too many sporting events in Korea, I made a concerted effort to watch the preliminary match-up between the USA and Canada. Canada's hockey team, with hockey being it's national sport, was under tremendous pressure to win gold. Though they were heavy favorites, they struggled to beat a weaker Swiss team in the preliminary round. After that squeaker, one could argue that perhaps the pressure got to them too much as they lost 5-3, somewhat convincingly, to the underdog US team. The "underdog," goal tender, East Lansing, Michigan native Ryan Miller handled the "pressure" of Team Canada quite well by making several keys saves to lead the US to victory. On the other hand, Hall of Fame goalie Marty Brodeur made some uncharacteristic head scratching mistakes that game, and the team also incurred too many penalties that opened the door for that US win. That loss caused some to think, myself included, that having to play an extra game in the playoffs (including an early round game with Russia) would be too much added pressure, and that the Canadians would fold.



Of course, just the opposite happened. Canada destroyed powerhouse Russia, 7-3, survived against pesky Slovakia 3-2, and had tons of momentum heading into the final game with none else but the US. Though Canada had been playing exceptional hockey throughout the tournament after their first loss to the US, they would have to jump one extra hurdle. Leading the US 2-1, with just over 24 seconds to play, the US scored an unthinkable, and potentially backbreaking goal to tie the game at 2. Many times, when a team gives up a goal that late, they are devastated. As we know now though, team Canada regrouped, shook off the pressure, and scored in overtime to capture gold.



I must also mention some other figures who competed like champions facing not only pressure, but emotional adversity. Think of Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette, who just a few days after losing her mother and hero to a heart attack, skated well enough to earn a bronze medal. In other years, she may have won silver or gold if it wasn't for Kim Yu Na.



Also, US hockey GM Brian Burke lost his 18 year old son in a car accident 9 days before the Olympics began. True, he didn't have to play, but he still showed up in Vancouver for his duties despite a heavy heart. Perhaps he was an inspiration to his beloved team.



So yes, pressure can be a crazy, unpredictable, unmeasurable indicator of performance. Who steps up under pressure? Who "chokes" under little pressure at all? Who can overcome personal tragedy to compete at the highest level? Who can't? What, if anything, accounts for the difference in performance? Who knows? Kim Yu Na and the Canadian hockey team had more pressure than anyone and excelled. On the other hand, lesser known athletes made many elementary mistakes. One Dutch speedskater and his coach lost a world record, gold medal, and millions in endorsements because they couldn't figure out the proper lane in which to finish a race, something they probably got right hundreds of times before. Lesser known figure skaters, though still highly skilled, but with almost nothing to lose, fell and stumbled doing routine maneuvers. The usually outstanding Finnish hockey goalie, looked live a sieve allowing a rush of USA goals by with little resistance in the hockey semi-finals. It was 4-0 at the halfway point of the FIRST period. Who thrives? Who wilts?



Pressure can be a funny thing. Team Canada faced it in all sports. Some say they were a disappointment because they didn't win the most medals. Russian President Medvedev is now calling for the resignation of all the Russian Olympic trainers and coaches because the Russian athletes didn't win enough medals; talk about pressure . . .



Some will argue that pressure brings out the best in athletes, or people in general. Kim Yu Na and the Canadian hockey team proved that. I won't aruge against it, but especially after the courage shown by Joannie Rochette and Brian Burke and any others facing tragedy, I will add something to it.

Pressure can be dealt with by putting the importance of a task, or competition in perspective. Kim Yu-Na skated so effortlessly that her performance didn't seem like a "big deal." The Canadian hockey team brushed off the pressure and early loss to the USA like it was "no big deal." After witnessing the courage of Joannie Rochette and Brian Burke under pressure, it seems that in the grand scheme of life, games and competitions, even if they're for money, medals, or fame, are truly "no big deal."