Our Stereotyping of Athletic Confidence

Belies an undercurrent of humanity

Naomi Osaka — photo courtesy of Wikimedia

The supremely confident championship athlete has become an archetype in popular culture. When we see a triumphant winner in sports, we project our insecurities onto their moment of glory. We silently compare ourselves to them, telling ourselves that we could never be confident enough to perform in front of cameras or paying audiences.