As selections approach and competition pressure rises, many athletes assume nerves and pressure are the problem. In this episode of The Champions Corner, we flip that belief on its head.

Pressure isn’t what breaks athletes.

Confusion does.

In Episode 2 of Just You and the Mat mini series, Kate Elizabeth breaks down why pressure actually sharpens performance when an athlete is clear on their role, standards, and identity — and why unclear expectations, comparison, and noise create the spiral athletes fear most.

This episode is designed for athletes who are:

• Feeling the weight of selections

• Managing expectations from coaches, parents, and themselves

• Training hard but feeling mentally scattered

• Wanting clarity instead of chaos as competition approaches

Rather than trying to eliminate pressure, this episode teaches athletes how to use pressure as feedback, strip things back to what matters, and compete with direction instead of doubt.

This is a must-listen episode three weeks out from selections, when mental clarity becomes a competitive edge.

• Pressure doesn’t break athletes — lack of clarity does

• Confidence comes from knowing your job, not feeling calm

• Clear standards reduce anxiety under pressure

• Noise increases when identity is unclear

• Pressure sharpens performance when focus is narrow