Meet the sport psychologists and dieticians helping Singapore’s Olympians to deliver under pressure
Singapore is fielding 23 athletes across 11 sports in the Paris Olympic Games from Friday (Jul 26) to Aug 11.
Sports psychologist Harry Lim (R) from the Singapore Sport Institute, speaking to badminton player Loh Kean Yew.
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PARIS: As the clock ticks down on the Paris Olympic Games, emotions can run high for athletes gearing up for their big moment.
Throw in multiple challenges, like the searing summer heat in the French capital, and many could be struggling to be in tip-top condition.
This is where sport psychologists and dietitians step in.
Singapore is fielding 23 athletes across 11 sports in the upcoming Games from Friday (Jul 26) to Aug 11. The Paralympics will then be held from Aug 28 to Sep 8, with nine Team Singapore athletes set to compete in five sports.
When even a change in weather can affect their performances, it will take a village to help them deliver under pressure.
Dr Harry Lim, senior sports psychologist from the Singapore Sport Institute, is on the ground in Paris to help spot any signs of stress.
"The fact that it also happens once every four years - everybody's trying to peak at the right time,” he told CNA.
“So (we are) getting our athletes prepared, not just for peaking but also for qualifications.”
Dr Lim has been conducting regular consultations and surveys to understand their needs, and will serve as their listening ear if they run into issues.
He added that the Olympics comes with the challenges of both qualifying and performing at the global Games.
“How we manage this whole process (is) by making sure that athletes are able to peak once to qualify, and then also peak again at the Olympics itself, to be able to produce their best performance,” he said.
BEATING THE HEAT
Besides battling their opponents, athletes will also have to contend with July’s summer heat.
This year’s Games is predicted to be the warmest on record, according to the French official weather agency Meteo-France. Paris has been struck by a series of record heat waves in recent years.
A report released last month warned that conditions in Paris could be worse than the last Games in Tokyo in 2021.
As part of preparations for the weather, Team Singapore athletes can train in an environmental chamber in Singapore to get used to temperature changes.
While in Paris, they can also wear ice vests or soak in ice baths to keep themselves cool.
"We can go from very cold, like five degrees Celsius, all the way up to 40 degrees Celsius (in this chamber),” said Singapore Sport Institute’s sport physiologist Kester Choo.
“We can also manipulate the humidity to mimic somewhat dry, hot weather like in Paris. We can also mimic very warm and humid (conditions) like in Tokyo, so that allows us some flexibility in preparing our athletes to compete in different environmental conditions,” Dr Choo added.
In terms of refuelling, dieticians are on hand to ensure the athletes’ eating needs are well taken care of and help them manage any travel fatigue.
"For example, for some of our athletes who take some ergogenic aids like caffeine - going into their competitions, (we) will help to fine-tune in terms of how much they should be taking, when they should be taking,” said senior sport dietician and team lead Huang Liyan.
The team then looks at how to help such athletes rest after their competition to get ready for their next one, Ms Huang added.
The Olympic opening ceremony will take place on Friday, where sailor Ryan Lo and sprinter Shanti Pereira will be Singapore’s flag bearers.
