In an era where legacies are debated in real time and greatness is measured in highlight reels and hashtags, the pursuit of GOAT status has become more than just a career goal-it’s an obsession.
Today’s elite athletes aren’t just playing to win; they’re playing to be remembered, to dominate the record books and to claim a spot on the ever-shifting stage of their sport.
The cost of chasing immortality, however, can be steep.
To be the greatest demands more than talent. It requires total commitment-often at the expense of mental health. Elite athletes regularly face unrelenting expectations from fans, media, and sponsors, chronic anxiety over performances and failures, and loss of identity when self-worth becomes tied to winning.
“While it is good to set goals for yourself and want to do your best, it is important to appreciate when milestones are reached and goals are achieved. The constant striving for more or being ‘the greatest’ makes it harder for us to be satisfied with the lives we are leading,” explained psychology teacher Sara Russell. “When we feel like none of our accomplishments are enough, then that can affect our self-esteem and feelings of self-worth.”
Chasing GOAT status can also mean pushing the body beyond its limits. In the relentless pursuit of greatness, overtraining, chronic fatigue and injury are not just common-they’re normalized as part of the grind. The pressure to constantly perform, even as the body is breaking down, can lead individuals to addictive coping mechanisms like painkillers, stimulants, or performance-enhancing drugs just to keep going. What begins as a short-term solution to stay competitive can spiral into long-term dependence and serious health consequences.
From permanent joint damage and heart complications to hormonal imbalances and mental health disorders, the physical and psychological toll can be devastating. While the world celebrates gold medals and championship wins, athletes hide deteriorating health behind the spotlight.
The newly released horror movie “HIM,” directed by Justin Tipping, sheds light on the personal sacrifices that are made to become legendary. Cameron Cade, played by Tyriq Withers, a rising football star, is invited to train with his childhood hero, Isaiah White, played by Marlon Wayans, on an isolated compound. As the film progresses, though, Cade is consumed by the need to become the greatest, and as his obsession grows, he sacrifices his relationships, health, and morals-descending into madness and isolation.
Just like the characters in “HIM,” athletes can become trapped by their ambition, with greatness becoming a curse rather than a goal.
Dissatisfaction stays even after success. The identity crisis of retirement is another challenge the greatest must face-a struggle of self-worth and purpose.
For many athletes, their sport isn’t just something they do- it’s who they are. It has consumed their attention for the majority of their life, years where they revolved around training, competition, discipline, and performance. Their identity becomes tightly woven into their role as an athlete, which means that when retirement comes-whether by age, injury, or burnout-it can trigger a profound sense of loss and confusion.
The race to be the best often starts as early as high school, where young athletes can be introduced to competition and pressure. At this critical stage, it becomes the responsibility of the coach to not just train, but to protect-prioritizing the physical and mental well-being of their athletes over trophies and titles. PV girls track and field coach Kenny Wheeler has made this commitment to his team.
“In the same way I share with our track & field women, you can only focus on the things that you can control. For me, I do my best to continue to educate myself not only within my sport but in how I coach, lead and develop our student-athletes into the individuals that they are to become,” stated Wheeler. “If I can help them to be successful, then that helps our teams to be successful, and that same approach has led to consistent success over time.”
To address this growing crisis, a collective shift in how greatness is defined and supported must happen.
Organizations, schools, and teams must make mental wellness a priority. This means hiring mental health professionals, normalizing therapy and making spaces for athletes to express their struggles without fear of judgment or consequences.
Coaches must begin to set a new standard-one where developing people comes before developing stats. More programs must adopt a model where education, empathy and emotional intelligence are as valuable as drills and discipline.
Athletes should never face retirement or injury alone. Creating post-career networks-career development programs, mentorship opportunities and transitional counseling- can help athletes redefine themselves beyond the field.
Athletes, coaches and fans must begin to value balance over burnout, progress over perfection, and well-being over worship. True greatness doesn’t require self-destruction.
