Team USA Athletes Share Their Pre-Competition Rituals

Before launching down a mountain or racing across ice, the world's greatest athletes aren't thinking about medals. They're thinking about gummy frogs, the perfect song, and whether their hamstrings feel right.

Team USA's Winter Olympics and Paralympics athletes shared their pre-competition rituals with Women's Health, and the variety is stunning. Some blast Pitbull on speakers while others stretch in complete silence. Some chat up everyone around them while others talk only to themselves.

Music emerges as the great unifier, even when the playlists couldn't be more different. Para alpine skier Audrey Crowley belts out Taylor Swift to get goofy and relaxed. Ice hockey player Kendall Coyne Schofield skips the soundtrack entirely, preferring one fast lap and cold wind on her face.

Ski jumper Sam Macuga experiences both extremes in minutes. His team blasts party music in the changing cabin, but once he's at the top, he sits alone talking to himself. "Heels closer, heels closer, heels closer," he repeats, programming his body for the perfect jump.

The mental game matters just as much as the physical one. Freestyle skier Jaelin Kauf gives herself a championship-level pep talk before every run: "You've got this. Just ski your run. Bring the love. You're the best in the world." Biathlete Deedra Irwin scrolls through phone puzzles to calm her nerves, then reminds herself of every good training moment that brought her here.

Oksana Masters, the most decorated U.S. Paralympian in history, keeps things simple. She talks, laughs, and brings high energy to everyone around her. Being herself is her ritual.

Why This Inspires

These athletes prove that excellence doesn't require perfection or a one-size-fits-all approach. Whether you're preparing for an Olympic event or a challenging day at work, the lesson is the same: find what centers you and own it completely.

Skeleton racer Mystique Ro knows she'll have a good push if her hamstring feels right during a walking toe touch. That simple body check gives her confidence. Alpine skiing legend Lindsey Vonn adjusts her playlist to match her mood, switching between country music and Kendrick Lamar depending on what she needs.

Biathlete Deedra Irwin captured the bigger picture beautifully. The right ritual can elevate any moment into something memorable, she explained. You don't need a medal to have an Olympic moment when you're fully present in the experience.

These tiny anchors—a song, a stretch, a self-directed pep talk—transform world-class pressure into world-class performance, one personal ritual at a time.