With the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Games rapidly approaching, athletes around the world are preparing for their moment in the spotlight. Years of practice, hard work and dedication come together as competitors earn the international recognition that, for many of them, comes along only once every four years.
An Olympic gold medal, like the one Drexel’s own Justin Best won in the 2024 Paris Olympics, can change an athlete’s life. But with the opportunity comes an enormous amount of pressure — on both the athletes and their coaches — for things to go right at the Games.
Cameron Kiosoglous, PhD, an associate professor in the School of Education, has coached on the USRowing national team since 2002 and is a four-time U.S. Olympic coach. He recently shared his insights and experiences with the preparation that goes into competing in an Olympic Games, which goes well beyond the physical aspects of performing, and the methods he has used to get the most of his elite-level athletes.
How do you help athletes deal with the reality that years of preparation can come down to one race or one performance?
Performing at the Olympics isn’t about creating something new — it’s about revealing what’s already there. If we frame the Games as a single, fragile moment, the pressure becomes overwhelming.
Instead, we anchor athletes in the idea that competing on the Olympic stage is simply the next data point in a long, well-executed process. Success, in that sense, is execution — not outcome. When athletes trust their preparation, they’re far less likely to feel that everything hinges on one attempt.
What training methods do you use to rebuild confidence after a disappointing performance when turnaround time is short?
At the Olympic level, confidence isn’t rebuilt through pep talks — it’s rebuilt through clarity of focus.
Immediately after a poor performance, we separate emotion from information: What’s controllable in that moment before the next round? We focus on one or two execution cues the athlete already knows well. It is not about trying something new and the goal isn’t reinvention; it’s stabilization. Confidence comes back quickly when athletes are reminded of what they can reliably do under pressure.
How does training differ when an athlete is competing in their home country versus a venue far away from home?
Competing at home and competing abroad present very different psychological demands. At home, athletes often feel over-supported — expectations, media and personal relationships can blur boundaries. Away from home, isolation and unfamiliarity become the challenge. Our training adjusts accordingly.
For home Games, we practice filtering noise and protecting routines. For international competition, we emphasize self-sufficiency — managing schedules, recovery and emotional regulation without familiar supports. The training isn’t just physical; it’s environmental.
How do you prepare athletes to handle unexpected disruptions while competing in a new environment not familiar to them?
We normalize disruption early. Travel delays, unfamiliar food, hotel issues, traffic, equipment problems — none of these are surprises at the Olympic level, but they can still feel destabilizing if athletes expect perfection.
In training, we intentionally introduce minor stressors and practice adaptive responses. Athletes learn to ask, “what still matters right now?” That skill — refocusing on controllables — is often the difference between resilience and unraveling when something goes wrong.
What is the biggest misconception about elite athletes’ mental toughness?
The biggest misconception is that mentally tough athletes don’t struggle. In reality, they struggle constantly — they’ve just learned how to work through it. Mental toughness isn’t about suppressing doubt or fear; it’s about recognizing those experiences without letting them dictate behavior. The most successful athletes aren’t emotionally invincible — they’re emotionally skilled. They know how to reset, recommit and execute even when conditions are imperfect.
What is one thing people might not realize about the Olympic experience when it comes to excellence across high-stakes environments — not just in sport?
What the Olympic Games ultimately teach you is that excellence is rarely about the moment people see. It’s about consistency, humility and the willingness to recommit when no one is watching.
The athletes who sustain success over time aren’t chasing perfection, they’re chasing alignment between values, preparation and behavior. That lesson carries far beyond sport. Whether in leadership, education or life, the ability to show up fully, adapt when things don’t go as planned and stay grounded in purpose is what separates short-term achievement from lasting excellence.
Reporters interested in speaking with Kiosoglous should contact Mike Tuberosa, assistant director, News & Media Relations, mt85@drexel.edu or 215.895.2705.
