Meet the sport psychologists and dieticians helping Singapore’s Olympians to deliver under pressure

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.

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