Has there been a more harrowing sight at the London Olympics than that of young Australian swimmer Emily Seebohm?
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Maybe not, but certainly the South Korean fencer Shin A-Lam would go close after she broke down in tears and staged an hour-long sit-in after losing to her opponent in controversial circumstances.
For Seebohm, who had a gold medal snatched from her grasp in the dying strokes of the 100-metres backstroke final, it was all too much.
Sobbing uncontrollably, Seebohm apologised to her parents, her coach and the whole of Australia for letting them down.
Of course she had done no such thing.
But it was a vivid example of the pressures that elite sportsmen and women are under when they represent their country at the highest level, in Seebohm's case the Olympic Games.
It is, says Albion Park hockey star Casey Eastham, a massive struggle to overcome the nerves and perform at your best.
Speaking to the Mercury after the meltdown of several Australian medal hopefuls in London's Olympic pool, the Olyroos champion admitted to feeling a crushing weight in the build-up to competition.
It is alarming that elite athletes are putting themselves under enormous pressure to meet their own expectations and those of fans, administrators and sponsors.
That government funding criteria often depends on results is also a concern.
Governments and administrators must work together to ease the pressure on athletes before there is a tragedy we may all regret.