Olympic Parents' Terror: Prayers for Safety Over Medals

Parents attending the Winter Olympics in Northern Italy often face profound anxiety as they watch their children compete in high-risk extreme sports. The primary concern for many, including Christine and Mark Henderson from New Hampshire, is not Olympic medals but their children's safety, given a history of severe injuries among athletes. This pervasive worry leads to various coping strategies, from intense prayer to avoiding direct viewing of races, as exemplified by Hanne Vestergaard of Denmark.

Psychologists note that fear is natural, escalating with the potential for injury in extreme sports. To manage this, some parents, like Debbie Curtis, have even tried the sports themselves, albeit with terrifying results. Rituals and good-luck charms are common, with families employing unique routines such as wearing the same outfits or carrying symbolic items. Despite the inherent dangers, some parents, like former ski jumper Scott Colby, encourage embracing the awe-inspiring nature of the sports to find pride and reduce fear.