Crying during the Olympics? You're not alone. What mental health experts say about fans getting emotional.
You cried when Celine Dion performed. You teared up at all the heart-tugging commercials. You wept like a baby when Simone Biles won not one, not two but three gold medals. And you aren’t alone.
The 2024 Paris Olympics have been emotional, with moments of both happiness and heartbreak. But why is it that spectators are crying for athletes who they don’t even know? It’s all about a connection to fellow humans, experts say.
Why are you getting so emosh?
Although the athleticism displayed over the past two weeks isn’t something that everybody can tap into themselves, the emotions tied to it are universally relatable, according to Dr. Brook Choulet, an Arizona-based concierge sports and performance psychiatrist.
“The competitive nature of sports contributes to the emotional ups and downs that both athletes and spectators can experience,” she tells Yahoo Life. “The competition and unpredictability of sports ultimately leads to triumphs and adversity that resonate with fans.”
It’s a “swing of emotions” that “any good story” would have, says Pamela Rutledge, director of the Media Psychology Research Center. With the help of social media, people grow connected to the stories of Olympic athletes way before the Games even begin.
“Fans often see athletes and performers as extensions of themselves, creating powerful emotional connections. The ubiquity of media increases exposure that can create parasocial relationships where a fan feels as if they know the athlete as a real person or friend,” she tells Yahoo Life. “This psychological investment enhances the emotional experience because it feels more personal and can influence how fans interpret events, form relationships and navigate their social identities.”
And that’s not just through exposure to the athlete themselves. “Parent interviews are part of building this empathetic connection with athletes, by humanizing them and highlighting their hard work and likability,” says Rutledge. American gymnast Hezly Rivera’s dad, Henry Rivera, won over fans with his reactions (and heart rate readings) to his daughter’s routines, and there wasn’t a dry eye to be found when bronze medalist Brody Malone’s widowed dad, John Malone, choked up reading a letter celebrating his son’s achievements.
Not all of the emotions are positive, of course. “We can empathize with athletes who suffer mishaps and losses, whether we are moved by familiarity of expressed emotion, such as the French gymnasts [seen consoling each other after not moving forward in the competition], or by our sense of liking and connection through watching someone perform and hearing their story,” says Rutledge. However, it’s important to not let an athlete’s disappointment drag you down. “Be aware if you are allowing negative emotions to linger and, if so, actively engage in activities that will improve your mood,” Rutledge suggests. “Take a walk or do some deep breathing to reset your emotions.”
Why community matters — and why cheering on athletes is good for you
A sense of community can intensify our emotional experience. “Fandom taps into the fundamental desire for belonging and reaffirmation of identity as part of a group,” says Rutledge.
This is especially true for an environment that brings people together from all over the world.
“The Olympics is a time when people identify with their country and experience a sense of community,” says Choulet. “These feelings of belonging can contribute to the emotional investment fans experience when watching a specific sport or a beloved athlete. The international camaraderie that the Olympics brings out enhances the emotional connection, making it both sentimental and inspiring, evoking emotion from spectators.”
These fans also display an ability to put their differences aside in an effort to “be part of the team,” says Rutledge. “The rituals like opening ceremonies, awards [and] playing the national anthem of the winners further the sense of connection and belonging. When your country wins, you, as a citizen of that country, also win.”
Research backs this up. A 2023 study from Anglia Ruskin University found that attending live sporting events resulted in higher scores of well-being — meaning that fans experienced “a greater sense of life being worthwhile and reduced loneliness.”
Another study from Japan showed that people who frequently watch sporting events on TV or online are at a lower risk of depressive symptoms than those who do not watch. “Discussing sports with friends and colleagues can also benefit mental health by providing social connection and a sense of community,” says Choulet. “All of these things can counteract feelings of loneliness or isolation.”
Still, it’s important to keep those feelings in perspective. “An excessive attachment to sports teams and their outcomes can have a negative impact on well-being,” Choulet says. “There is added stress on the body as well as the overall mood being impacted as a result of a win or loss.” In other words: Don’t let a disappointing result ruin your day.
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In other Olympics news:
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Even the parents are getting a workout. Some Olympians’ loved ones have been hooked up with heart rate monitors — and for some, watching their kids compete has resulted in spiked readings. Does that mean spectating is a sport in itself?
Simone Biles can teach us a thing or two about mental health. From setting boundaries to taking time for therapy, here are five of her healthy habits to adopt.
