Top Athletes Grapple With Deeper Purpose Beyond Victory

The mental game is redefining success in global sports

A profound shift is underway in elite athletics, with stars like Scottie Scheffler and Alexander Zverev publicly questioning the ultimate point of their relentless pursuit of wins. This introspection, once confined to private contemplation, is now a visible and vital part of peak performance.

Searching for Meaning Amidst Glory

World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler admitted before The Open that he struggles to articulate his motivation for winning tournaments. Similarly, tennis star Alexander Zverev has spoken of feelings of emptiness, irrespective of match outcomes. Even Wimbledon’s women’s singles runner-up, Amanda Anisimova, found clarity and renewed purpose after a mental health break, ultimately reaching the final.

These athletes are pushing boundaries not just physically, but mentally. Their experiences highlight a crucial phase in high-level sports: exploring what lies beyond the win-loss binary, a concept many find challenging to grasp.

Discovering a purpose that transcends trophies is increasingly central to an athlete’s mental fortitude, enabling them to achieve and maintain peak performance. This journey, however, is far from straightforward.

Scheffler himself acknowledged after his Open victory that while winning offers a sense of accomplishment, it doesn’t provide lasting fulfillment. He remains aware that triumph cannot be the sole definition of his sporting existence, even if the definitive answer to “Why do I want to win this championship so badly?” remains elusive.

Redefining Identity Through Sport

Anisimova’s decision to step away from tennis two years ago was a crucial move to safeguard her mental well-being, allowing her to reconnect with her passion and redefine her reasons for playing. The notion that taking time off would be detrimental is, for many, an outdated perspective failing to recognize the necessity of nurturing an athlete’s holistic health.

Scheffler, Anisimova, and Zverev‘s journeys echo fundamental human needs for meaning, as explored by thinkers like psychologist Abraham Maslow and psychiatrist Viktor Frankl. This search for purpose is a primary human motivator, suggesting that while trophies are enjoyable, they offer fleeting satisfaction compared to deeper, enduring fulfillment.

It’s important to clarify that these athletes are not diminishing the importance of winning. Rather, they underscore that victory is temporary and insufficient for sustained elite performance. Questioning the fundamental purpose of sport, while seemingly radical, is essential for athletes striving to unlock their complete potential.

The path to finding meaning in sport varies for each individual. It often involves self-awareness, the strength of connections with loved ones and communities, and the enduring positive impact or legacy they create.

Coaches must now foster environments that encourage athletes to explore these deeper questions. Traditional coaching methodologies, often focused solely on technical and tactical excellence, are proving insufficient. Even within sports psychology, the emphasis on purpose and identity, while critical, is not always a primary request from coaching staff or performance directors.

Organizations like Switch the Play and the True Athlete Project are stepping in to support athletes’ transitions out of their careers. However, conversations about purpose, identity, and social impact need to be integrated much earlier in an athlete’s developmental journey, long before retirement.

Gratitude and Humility Define Modern Champions

When athletes possess a strong sense of meaning and purpose, the emotional disparity between winners and losers diminishes. Both outcomes become valuable experiences for self-discovery, character development, and reinforcing virtues like resilience, courage, and humility.

This was evident in the post-match reflections of Wimbledon finalists Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Their speeches were notably similar, emphasizing gratitude and humility. Alcaraz stated that losses, while painful, are “not failures,” and Sinner highlighted the importance of accepting defeat, referencing his earlier loss at the French Open. Both players acknowledged that their identities are not defined by match results, and that they are engaged in a larger pursuit.

In a testament to this evolving mindset, Sinner remarked after his Wimbledon triumph, “We just keep pushing and trying to become a better tennis player, but mostly a better person.” This perspective offers the ultimate mental advantage, applicable across all competitive arenas.

In 2023, the global sports industry was valued at approximately $78 billion, underscoring the immense economic and cultural significance of athletic performance. This scale highlights the importance of supporting the mental well-being and holistic development of athletes who drive this massive sector (Statista, 2024).