An Athlete Can’t Choke if They Aren’t Expected to Succeed
The reality of the idea of choking under pressure is that beginners and perennial average and below average performers don’t choke. The reason why they don’t choke is because you can’t choke at something when there is no expectation of success. Choking under pressure is a product of expectations. That is why the famous Billie Jean King quote is so powerful for reframing pressure:
Pressure is a privilege—it only comes to those who earn it
Therefore, an athlete must be successful first before there is a possibility to choke.
I make this point to provide a reality check for athletes. There is a simple truism about performance under pressure that is not as obvious as it should be. Successful athletes who fail under pressure fail for one reason and one reason only.
The one factor that helps successful athletes remain successful under pressure is that they don’t change who they are because there is more pressure. Whereas successful athletes who choke tend to approach high pressure situations differently than normal.
To put it another way, successful athletes who don’t choke know how to be themselves under pressure. Successful athletes who do choke lose themselves and forget who they are under pressure.
The fact is that successful athletes are at their best when they are being themselves. Therefore, the best thing a successful athlete can do to prepare for high pressure situations is to invest in truly knowing what inside them makes them successful. Then prepare in a way so nothing can penetrate that core.