Senior on the Women’s Varisty Golf Team tees of at a match
What is it like to compete alone? A sport in which participants compete as individuals may seem daunting, but swimming, track, singles tennis, golfing, skiing, ice skating and even fencing bring a new meaning to “team.”
Opinions on individual sports tend to be very versatile depending on who you ask. Some people thrive in the environment these sports create and others languish beneath the pressures. The somewhat isolating nature of individual sports can bring out the most self-determination and grit within athletes, yet also launch an unhealthy battle with oneself in two huge areas of our emotional being: mental health and confidence. As someone who has been a competitive swimmer almost my whole life I have an personal understanding of the positives and negatives that come with being an individual athlete.
I’ve found the positives to outweigh the negatives. Individual sports teach valuable life skills that are transferable to life outside scores and times. From learning accountability, these independent competitions create a comfortable environment where one is able to learn and train at a pace that is right for them and foster a certain mental toughness that may not be as intense in other team-focused sports.
However, individual athletics can take a toll on an athlete's mental health and confidence as players, runners, and swimmers can begin to develop unhealthy relationships with losing. It is very common for athletes to struggle with anxiety or extreme nerves especially before competing due to fear of letting their personal mistakes affect the overall performance of their team.
It is important to share the truth behind individual sports and offer advice and motivation to athletes who could be struggling to find motivation within these stressful environments.
Sophomore Eliza Harlow stated that when she feels stressed with competition she “likes to get in [her] zone by listening to pump up music.” She also mentioned, “I like to talk to my coach and get some advice on my upcoming events. Talking to other teammates who are also nervous makes me feel a lot better.”
Perhaps there is some team comfort in the madness of independent competitions. For better or worse, independent sports remain popular and the importance of understanding the mental health behind these athletes continues to grow.
Anya Frey '25 is a Vol. 71 Contributing Editor