Stress doesn’t disappear at the top of sport. If anything, it sharpens.
Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad has spoken openly about how his relationship with pressure evolved over time:
"Early on, pressure felt like something to fight," he said. "Later, I realised it was just part of the job.
"The key was learning not to let it define the next moment."
That reframing - from threat to expectation - is a common thread among long-serving athletes. Rather than trying to eliminate stress, they focus on controlling their response.
Former England white-ball captain Jos Buttler has echoed that sentiment when discussing leadership and scrutiny:
"You’re never going to please everyone," he says. "Once you accept that, you free up a lot of mental space to just do your job properly."
Experts describe this as cognitive acceptance - acknowledging pressure without attaching identity to it.
PRACTICAL REFRAMES ATHLETES USE
Pressure = proof you’re trusted
Nerves = readiness, not weakness
Criticism = information, not judgement
THE TAKEAWAY
The goal isn’t a stress-free environment. It’s a calmer mind inside a demanding one.
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