How did Sasha Cohen's 2006 Olympic experience differ from 2002?

In 2002, as a 17-year-old, she was an unknown and thrilled to make the team. By 2006, she was a favorite with 'all eyes on her,' leading to immense pressure to redeem herself and perform at her best, despite not feeling ready.

What is the structure of figure skating programs in the Olympics?

Figure skating includes a short program (2 minutes 50 seconds) with three jumping passes, footwork, and spins, and a long program (just over 4 minutes) with eight jumping passes and more flexibility for combinations, spins, and sequences. The scoring system no longer uses a 6.0 scale but aggregates points without a cap.

Why did Sasha Cohen skip warm-up practice before her long program in 2006?

She had strained her leg during her short program performance and decided to take the day off between programs to be fresher and avoid exacerbating the injury. This decision surprised many as other skaters typically use every minute of ice time.

How did Sasha Cohen maintain composure after falling during her 2006 long program?

She relied on years of training that taught her to 'bounce' immediately back up. The enormity of the moment and the need to suppress emotions meant she couldn't sulk in the disappointment but had to block it out and focus on the next element of the program.

Was Sasha Cohen proud of her performance despite falling in the 2006 long program?

She was proud of how she finished, especially after landing subsequent difficult jumps, and allowed herself to get into the emotional music of Romeo and Juliet. While crestfallen about missing gold, she found relief in completing the program and recognized that many top competitors also made mistakes that night.

How did Sasha Cohen transition from her figure skating career?

She initially delayed formal retirement, competed at Worlds in March 2006, then toured for a few years, took acting classes in LA, and ultimately attended Columbia University. This allowed her to explore new opportunities and gradually redefine her identity outside of skating.

How common is depression among former Olympians?

Sasha Cohen believes the statistic that 80% of Olympians experience some form of depression is believable, possibly even higher. This is attributed to the loss of identity, purpose, and support system after dedicating years to their sport, coupled with the societal stigma of admitting weakness.

How has Sasha Cohen redefined success after her athletic career?

Initially, she pursued high-stakes fields like finance, viewing them as her 'new Olympics.' However, through liberal arts education, Buddhist texts, and meditation, she realized success is self-defined and that happiness and meaningful relationships are more important than external validation or status.

What led Sasha Cohen to recognize the hollowness of achievement?

By pursuing paths she initially thought would bring fulfillment, she realized they often looked 'sexy from the outside' but lacked true meaning once she was immersed in them. This led her to question societal definitions of success and to cultivate introspection through practices like meditation.

What is 'The Weight of Gold' documentary about?

The documentary, featuring Olympians like Steve Holcomb and Michael Phelps, explores the mental health struggles, isolation, and identity loss faced by athletes during and after their Olympic careers, putting a voice to the pain and challenges many experience.

Does Sasha Cohen believe an athlete can be both healthy and the best in the world?

She believes it's one or the other—you can be a healthy, functioning human being, or you can be the best, but not both at the same time in elite sports. Achieving peak performance often requires sacrificing emotional well-being, social life, and balanced development.

How does Eastern philosophy on 'being' contrast with Western philosophy on 'doing' relate to sports?

In Western thought, there's a strong emphasis on cause and effect and individual agency ('just do it'), leading athletes to feel solely responsible for outcomes. Eastern philosophy emphasizes codependence and being part of a larger interconnected whole, a perspective Sasha finds helpful for athletes to avoid excessive self-blame.

What lessons will Sasha Cohen take into motherhood?

She aims to embrace a sense of selflessness, commitment to family, and to honor motherhood more deeply than societal norms often do. She's excited to learn from her child and expose him to the world's adventures, fostering a life rich in love and experience rather than achievement.

Key Moments

#78 – Sasha Cohen: The price of achievement, and redefining success

Peter Attia MD

People & Blogs3 min read134 min video

Jan 14, 2020|977 views|13|1

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Ex-Olympian Sasha Cohen on the mental toll of elite sports, identity loss, and redefining success beyond achievement.

Key Insights

Elite athletic careers culminate in intense, brief performances, often leading to a loss of identity and subsequent depression for former athletes.

The pressure on Olympians is immense, especially when favored, yet athletes must project confidence and hide vulnerability to avoid perceived weakness.

Transitioning from elite sports is extremely challenging due to a lack of developed external interests, friendships, and a complete identity shift.

The pursuit of achievement can be driven by a need for validation, which becomes hollow, leading to a reevaluation of success based on happiness and meaningful relationships.

Sport creates a 'doing' identity, which is fleeting; true fulfillment comes from 'being' and cultivating internal values and social connections.

The intense focus required for elite sports often means sacrificing emotional well-being and holistic development, making the post-athletic transition difficult.

THE UNBEARABLE PRESSURE OF THE OLYMPIC MOMENT

Sasha Cohen reflects on the immense pressure of elite figure skating, particularly the 2006 Olympics where she was a favorite. The years of sacrifice and training culminate in a few minutes on the world stage. This intense focus, coupled with a fear of failure and the need to project an image of perfection, creates a psychological burden. Cohen highlights how being a favorite amplifies this pressure compared to her first Olympics in 2002, where she was less known and more of an underdog.

THE MENTAL TOLL AND THE FALLOUT OF RETIREMENT

Cohen discusses the profound psychological impact of elite sports, including the high rate of depression among former Olympians. The loss of identity after an athletic career ends, especially when one's entire life has revolved around a single sport, is devastating. This identity crisis is compounded by a lack of developed social skills and external interests, leaving athletes feeling lost and behind their peers. Cohen notes the tendency for athletes to hide their struggles due to a culture that rewards strength and discourages vulnerability.

REDEFINING SUCCESS BEYOND ACHIEVEMENT AND VALIDATION

The conversation delves into the nature of success, contrasting external achievement with internal fulfillment. Cohen explains how the pursuit of medals and recognition, while initially validating, can feel hollow. She emphasizes the importance of shifting focus from 'doing' to 'being,' prioritizing relationships, personal values, and genuine happiness over societal definitions of success. This re-evaluation is crucial for navigating life beyond sport.

THE CHALLENGES OF THE ATHLETE'S PHYSIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY

Cohen details the physical and mental demands of figure skating, including the difficulty of managing injuries, training, and fluctuating body image. The suppression of emotions and vulnerabilities, necessary for performance, creates a disconnect that is hard to overcome in later life. The inherent pressure to be perfect, combined with the unpredictable nature of competition, often leads athletes to adopt coping mechanisms that, while functional in sport, hinder post-athletic adjustment.

THE TRANSITION FROM SPORT TO A NEW IDENTITY

The process of finding a new identity after retiring from elite sports is explored. Cohen shares her experience with acting classes and moving to New York, seeking new challenges and a different kind of self-expression. She contrasts the athlete's drive for external validation with a more internal search for meaning. The 'tadpole in the ocean' metaphor illustrates the shift from being a 'big fish' in a specialized pond to navigating a larger, more complex world.

MOTHERHOOD AND THE EVOLUTION OF VALUES

Looking ahead, Cohen reflects on motherhood as a significant life transition, offering a counterpoint to her intensely self-focused athletic career. She anticipates the shift in focus from self-achievement to nurturing another life, valuing relationships and experiences over performance. This next chapter represents an opportunity to build a life rich in love, adventure, and exploration, influenced by her own upbringing and a conscious desire for a different path for her child.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Organizations

●Books

●People Referenced

Common Questions

Sasha Cohen described feeling unprepared due to a series of injuries and equipment problems in the six months prior. She likened it to walking a pirate's plank, knowing she had to perform despite not feeling equipped.

Topics

Mindset & Self-Improvement Figure Skating Mental Fortitude Performance Pressure Emotional Regulation Human Performance Mental Health & Psychology Olympic Sports Athlete Identity Post-career Transition Redefining Success

Mentioned in this video

People

Mariah Bell

American figure skater, mentioned as having landed a triple Axel in the team competition.

Steve Holcomb

Bobsledder and Olympic medalist who featured in 'The Weight of Gold' documentary, highlighting the mental health struggles and isolation faced by Olympians, ultimately dying by suicide.

Sasha Cohen

American figure skating legend and silver medalist in the 2006 Olympics, known for her ability to remake herself post-skating and her wisdom on the hollowness of achievements.

Kristi Yamaguchi

Olympic figure skating idol Sasha Cohen toured with as a young kid, showing the excitement of early career opportunities.

Apollo Ohno

Olympic gold medalist and friend of Peter Attia, who, despite his success, struggled with identity post-Olympics, highlighting a common challenge for athletes.

Surya Bonaly

Figure skater from the 90s and early 2000s, mentioned as an example of a well-rounded athlete and performer that the sport's evolution might be losing.

Tom Dolan

Dominant male swimmer before Michael Phelps, known for his effective but not aesthetically pleasing swimming style, emphasizing that results can matter more than form in some sports.

Jeremy Blum

Friend of Sasha Cohen who found director Brett for 'The Weight of Gold' documentary, which evolved into a film about Olympian mental health.

Brian Boitano

Olympic figure skating idol Sasha Cohen toured with as a young kid, offering inspiration and new experiences.

David Foster Wallace

Author of 'This Is Water', a talk recommended by Peter Attia for its insights on self-worship and the hollowness of external achievements.

Jerry Rice

Famous wide receiver in American football, whose poster was used as an example to illustrate that even players not considered the 'best' are still extraordinary athletes.

David Brooks

Author of 'The Second Mountain', a book Sasha Cohen found compelling for its themes of finding meaningful purpose beyond individual achievement.

Speedy Peterson

Athlete mentioned in the context of 'The Weight of Gold' documentary for having committed suicide, reinforcing the issue of mental health among Olympians.

Elvis Stojko

Canadian figure skater, mentioned as having performed a quad jump, though possibly not a quad Axel.

Novak Djokovic

Tennis player, used as an example of an athlete booed by fans when pulling out of a tournament due to injury, illustrating the public's unrealistic expectations.

Missy Franklin

American female swimmer and phenom in 2012, whose later struggles highlighted the public's toxic expectations and lack of compassion for athletes.

Michelle Kwan

Figure skater from the 90s and early 2000s, whose career demonstrated the development of personality and artistry in the sport.

Kurt Browning

Figure skater from the 90s and early 2000s, cited as an example of performers whose personalities and artistry were valued.

Shaun White

Olympic gold medalist in snowboarding, who is part of the initiative to talk about the mental health struggles of Olympians.

Midori Ito

Japanese figure skater who notably landed a triple Axel, a difficult jump in the sport.

Irina Slutskaya

Russian figure skater and competitor to Sasha Cohen, whose presence sometimes led to negative reactions from Russian fans towards Sasha.

Michael Phelps

Highly successful Olympic swimmer, whose world records were recently broken, illustrating the fleeting nature of athletic greatness and the post-career struggles of even the most decorated athletes.

Books

This Is Water

A 24-minute talk by David Foster Wallace about the idea of self-worship and the emptiness of external validation, highly recommended for daily listening to reframe perspective.

The Second Mountain

A book mentioned by Sasha Cohen that she found compelling and powerful, aligning with her current phase of life exploring what makes a meaningful existence beyond conventional success.

Romeo and Juliet

The movie from which Sasha Cohen drew music for her emotional long program in the 2006 Olympics, resonating with its drama and love story.

Media

The Weight of Gold

A documentary featuring Olympians discussing the mental health challenges, identity loss, and depression faced after their careers or during immense pressure.

Organizations

Columbia University

The university Sasha Cohen attended after her skating career, choosing to be a 'tadpole in the ocean' to redefine herself and explore new academic interests.

Locations

Pasadena, California

The location where Sasha Cohen attended elementary school and initially struggled in a traditional classroom setting.