Explained: The impact of grief on elite athletic performance
Allstar Picture Library Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo. Frank Lampard celebrates after scoring for Chelsea against Liverpool in April 2008, just days after the death of his mother.
When we watch elite athletes perform, we often focus on their physical strength and mental sharpness. But behind those incredible feats are deeply human experiences, including grief. The loss of a loved one, personal heartache, or a shared tragedy can profoundly affect even the most focused and dedicated athletes.
Grief shows up in different ways for everyone, but there are common patterns in how it affects athletic performance. Here, we explore those patterns and reflect on why allowing ourselves the space to grieve is actually a sign of strength, not weakness.
Physical impacts
Grief takes a toll on the body, often showing up as sleep problems, changes in appetite, and higher levels of stress hormones. For instance, cortisol – the body’s main stress hormone – tends to spike when we’re grieving. This can lead to inflammation, weakened immune function, and slower recovery for muscles.
For athletes who rely on their bodies being in top form, these physical shifts can show up as unexpected injuries, slower recovery times, or inconsistencies in performance.
Mental focus and decision-making
While the physical effects of grief are clear, it’s often the mental side that proves even more challenging. Sports psychologists have observed how grief can fragment concentration and hinder the kind of quick, precise decision-making that elite athletes rely on.
For top athletes, even a small dip in focus can make the difference between success and failure. Jessica Bartley, Director of Mental Health Services for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, pointed out, “We know that grief impacts sleep, appetite, concentration and energy levels – all critical factors in athletic performance.”
“We know that grief impacts sleep, appetite, concentration and energy levels – all critical factors in athletic performance.”
Varied performance responses
Interestingly, grief doesn’t always lead to a drop in performance. Some athletes experience what researchers call “performance swings” – where they can go from exceptional to poor performances in dramatic shifts. For others, the act of training and competing offers a brief escape from their grief, providing a sense of peace, even if just for a moment.
One of the most powerful examples came in April 2008, just days after Frank Lampard’s mother passed away. The Chelsea midfielder played in a high-stakes Champions League semi-final against Liverpool, delivering an incredible performance and scoring a crucial penalty to help his team secure their first-ever European final spot.
Lampard shared after the match: “Your family is your entire concern and so it’s only gradually that I’m coming to terms with having to focus and carry on with football. This has been the most difficult time of my life so football was, and still is, a little bit of a side-show to my personal life. All that I’ve achieved owes a huge amount to hard work and determination – I place a high priority on them.”
Similarly, Manchester City’s Jack Grealish scored on the 25th anniversary of his younger brother’s death in April 2025, during a win against Leicester. He reflected afterwards: “My little brother passed away 25 years ago today. This day is hard on the family. My mum and dad were here, so to score and to win was brilliant.”
While these performances are incredible, they often aren’t sustainable in the long run. Research shows that emotional compartmentalization – essentially pushing aside overwhelming feelings in order to focus and cope – can lead to delayed grief reactions. This can sometimes result in a performance crash weeks or even months later as those emotions eventually catch up.
“This has been the most difficult time of my life so football was, and still is, a little bit of a side-show to my personal life.”
Individual differences
The way grief affects someone can vary a lot. Things like cultural background and personal coping styles play a huge role in how it shows up and impacts performance.
For instance, athletes from cultures where emotional restraint is valued might try to suppress their feelings. This could end up making things harder, as they may struggle with delayed performance issues because they haven’t allowed themselves to process their grief.
Support systems and recovery
The best recoveries from grief-related performance challenges usually come with strong support systems in place. More and more, teams and organisations are understanding how crucial mental health resources, flexible training schedules, and appropriate breaks are during tough times.
Take Michael Phelps as an example. After dealing with depression and grief following the London 2012 Olympics, he credited his comeback to the professional mental health support he had, along with a coaching team that was there for him emotionally, not just physically. They understood he needed more than physical training to get back on track.
Message for everyone
Whether you’re chasing Olympic gold or just trying to get through your day-to-day, grief needs to be acknowledged. The pressure to “perform” during life’s toughest moments only adds to the burden.
Research backs this up. Giving yourself the space to grieve isn’t a weakness; it’s a biological necessity. Our bodies and minds need time to process loss. Trying to push through without giving yourself that time only prolongs the healing process.
So, remember: recognising your grief isn’t stepping away from excellence. It’s laying the groundwork for coming back stronger and with a renewed sense of purpose.
