Every Missed Shot And Lost Game Holds A Blueprint For Overcoming Adversity

Athletes frequently encounter failure alongside success in their pursuits. For professional and Olympic competitors, these setbacks can manifest in singularly impactful ways before global audiences. Notable instances include Simone Biles grappling with "the twisties" during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Bill Buckner's notorious error in the 1986 World Series, compelling fanbases to reflect on these poignant moments. Recently, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Orion Kerkering found himself in similar company after a fateful misplay led to his team's playoff exit. “Just keep pushing,” he remarked, despite his emotional struggle. Overcoming such failures proves challenging; Pope Leo XIV noted in a recent post that sports teach valuable lessons about confronting our vulnerabilities. Sports psychologists emphasize that recovery necessitates not only accepting failure but also employing coping strategies. Among these are mental preparation techniques, as advised by experts like Robert Andrews and Alex Auerbach, which enable athletes to redirect focus and minimize performance disruption after setbacks.