Name: 10 Athletes Who Broke Under INSANE Olympic Pressure
Uploaded: 2026-02-18T17:11:28.000Z
Duration: 12 min 12 s
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Adverbs of degree

He had been on a world record pace and now risking not even qualifying for the team.

Adverbs of manner

Welcome to watchmojo and today we're looking at instances where Olympic pressure negatively impacted an athlete's performance.

These are cases where the athlete isn't to blame, but

rather the strain brought on by the global stage and other factors that can come with the territory.

I had hoped to be able to put everything else in my life on pause and just power through the events, and

Marlon Esparza Marlon Esparza made history as the first female American boxer to compete at the Olympics, leaving the 2012 Summer Games with bronze in the women's flyweight division.

And I can honestly say this is who I am right here.

It came as a disappointment when Esparza failed to qualify for the 2016 Games, losing to Virginia Fuchsia.

Esparza said, quote I feel like I get more pressure from inside the boxing world to do well for the public.

I feel the need to win because that's all people see, the win or the loss, nothing in the middle.

I want to be the best and I want to know that everything I did, although it's great, ends the way I want it to end.

Although Esparza was depressed, she strove to keep doing what she loves, quote without all the pressure.

Reflecting on the experience, Esparza said, quote I was getting anxiety attacks and panic attacks.

I love boxing and if I don't, if I'm not doing it, I get really sad.

So at the end of the day, it's something that I love and I wouldn't want to be doing anything else.

Tyson Gay the this American track and field sprinter seemed destined for gold following the 2008 trials, coming out on top in the 100 meters race.

In addition to qualifying for the Beijing Olympics, Gay became one of the fastest athletes ever to compete in this event during the 200 meters trials.

A week later, though, he suffered a hamstring injury that prevented him from running for almost a month.

Gaye endured mental stress heading into the Games, ultimately walking away with no medals.

I'm trying to work on my mental a lot better because when you come off of A surgery, it can play with your mind, you know, definitely a lot, and

Beyond his physical injury, Gaye would open up about the internal pressure he experienced.

Despite being in the best shape of his life, Gaye was weighed down by the question, quote, why aren't I 100% like everyone else is?

My mind frame is still staying tough to reach my goals.

Mikayla Maroney left the 2012 Summer Olympics with gold as part of the American Women's gymnastics team and AKA the Fierce Five.

Many expected Maroney to win another gold medal in the vault event.

Maroney came up short with the silver sparking the Mikayla is not impressed meme.

While Maroney didn't hide her disappointment, she said it was less about winning silver and more about her performance.

Years later, Maroney revealed that she competed with a broken foot and nose following a concussion.

For people who don't think, I'm like, really serious about this, like, you're wrong.

Although Maroney was still recovering, Marta Carolli reportedly pushed her to keep training.

Team doctor Larry Nassar had supposedly downplayed her injuries.

Nassar would be accused of assaulting numerous athletes.

This included Maroney, who faced pressure online, on camera, and behind the scenes.

Doing what's right is not always easy, but

I need to speak up for the girls and for the future.

Settling for silver or bronze when you're the presumed front runner is bittersweet.

That was the sentiment when Lolo Jones competed in the 100 meter hurdles at the 2008 Olympics.

Although Jones was the favorite, she stumbled at the ninth hurdle, placing seventh in the event.

Following several setbacks, the pressure was on for Jones to go the distance.

I became a nobody to she's supposed to win the Olympics overnight.

When she fell short at the tail end, she arguably received more hate than support from the public.

Looking back at this devastating loss, Jones said, quote, I really just put too much pressure on myself.

If people want to consider that choking, if they want to use that terminology for me, I completely understand.

Like they were like, she should get back all her endorsement money.

At the 2022 Winter Olympics, figure skater Nathan Chen won two gold medals, a feat everyone knew he was capable of.

That said, Chen was widely expected to win gold four years earlier at the Pyeongchang Games.

There are always these expectations and all these pressures from side sources, but

ultimately you're there alone on the ice and you're there to enjoy your experience for yourself.

Faltering during the team event, Chen's short program performance ranked fourth.

While he'd still share in a bronze victory, Chen felt he had let his teammates down.

Even worse, Chen placed 17th in the individual short program.

It was a little disappointing ultimately upon myself, not really because of the media.

I knew that I had hopes to get a medal for myself.

And I mean, I thought that with everything I would be able to do it.

Chen recalled experiencing, quote, pressure and quote doubt, which likely resulted in a, quote, total collapse, as ESPN put it.

While Chen would make a comeback, 2018 taught him that.

Quote, one of the hardest parts about performing for a huge sold out crowd is that you really can viscerally feel the reaction from the crowd.

I think ultimately I'm still the same person, but

I have learned a lot from these these past couple weeks.

Dan o' Brien Endorsement deals can play a significant role in Olympic pressure.

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10 Athletes Who Broke Under INSANE Olympic Pressure

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