Winter Olympics

What does it take to be an athlete? Is it speed, strength, discipline or all of the above? Very often, sports are considered the pinnacle of discipline. Who else trains around the clock if not for athletes? In a way, thousands of hours of practice culminate in a matter of minutes in a sports activity. We may think that the victory in a game is determined by itself but it is actually determined by the hours of training long before the game even begins. It is akin to the surface of the iceberg; only 10 per cent of it is visible; the rest is out of sight beneath the water. 

From February 6 to 22, 2026, the Winter Olympics were held in Italy as an eagerly awaited athletic event. Termed the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, the 25th edition of the Winter Games was as spectacular as ever. The motto of the event was, “IT’s Your Vibe,” and it featured a mascot called Tina (a white stoat). The opening and closing ceremonies were visually outstanding and overall, 2,900 athletes competed to win the gold. However, it was most unfortunate that Nepal was unable to participate. 

As such, the Winter Olympics 2026 made history with a whopping 47 per cent participation of women. It also saw the Olympic flames lit in both Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo simultaneously. The highlight of the games was the new sport, Ski Mountaineering that made its debut featuring sprint and relay events. Millions of people viewed the games on the screens. Many Olympians were put in the global spotlight as their dedication and discipline in sports were applauded by viewers throughout the world.  

It also brought forth the age-old question of mind over matter. It is not just a motivational cliché but a reference to the physiological reality wherein the brain overcomes the body’s instinct to give up. Top-notch athletes have a remarkable command of their bodies. When the body screams in pain and breathing becomes strained, they access deeper ‘reserve tanks’ of strength and energy. Their self-talk is on another level as they transform their narrative of pain, pushed forward by the visualisation of victory. 

Mind over matter for athletes means a state of flow, which is a neurological shift fueled by a potent mixture of brain chemicals-dopamine, endorphins and anandamide. They act as natural painkillers as well as performance enhancers, allowing the athlete to perform their sports with high precision and minimal conscious effort. 

So let us come again to the question, what does it take to be an athlete? It seems it takes a lot more than discipline, training and vitality of the body. It means challenging the limits of the mind. While most of us are in bed snoozing the alarm, a resolute athlete is already awake for training. Besides the rigorous training of the body, there is also a more subtle training of the mind. The more the mind goes into a flow state in any sport, the higher the chances of victory.

The Winter Olympics 2026 is currently being followed by the Winter Paralympics. As such, the world remains enthralled by the achievement of the athletes who compete in each category of such events with extraordinary dexterity and grace.