Think of audition pressure. Having to nail Bolero. Tough, yes?
Think of the olympic diving competition coming up in China. Think of those divers who are probably training right now in order to represent their country on the world stage. A quick google search yielded this article from the Chinese People's Daily.
So, you step up on the platform and, in the next second or two, years of training will either result in a perfect dive and national celebrations...
or
the slightest misalignment will lead to failure and national disgrace
(or at least disappointment).
Now that's pressure!
I once heard an interview with a U.S. Olympic diver. She said,
"They teach us to dive stupid."
(That's "dive stupid" not "dive, stupid."
A fairly important comma for the poor
reporter's feelings, don't you think?)
In other words, when everything is on the line,
turn the brain off and let the training take over.
Now that's good advice!
