---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The first few years I was competing, I'd…"
description: "\"The first few years I was competing, I'd ride so well in practice, then choke and fall in competition. Now I take a deep breath and say, 'Look at me. I..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/gretchen-bleiler-4516_competition_the-first-few-years-i-was-competing-i-d_1367283.jpg"
---

#  The first few years I was competing, I'd ride so well in…

![“The first few years I was competing, I'd ride so well in practice, then choke and fall in competition. Now I take a deep breath and say, 'Look at me. I'm outside. I'm doing what I love.' Still, nothing's matched the pressure I felt standing at the top of the halfpipe for the first time at the…” quote by Gretchen Bleiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/gretchen-bleiler-4516_competition_the-first-few-years-i-was-competing-i-d_1367283.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/gretchen-bleiler-4516_competition_the-first-few-years-i-was-competing-i-d_1367283.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/gretchen-bleiler-4516_competition_the-first-few-years-i-was-competing-i-d_1367283.jpg)

> “The first few years I was competing, I'd ride so well in practice, then choke and fall in competition. Now I take a deep breath and say, 'Look at me. I'm outside. I'm doing what I love.' Still, nothing's matched the pressure I felt standing at the top of the halfpipe for the first time at the Olympics.”

[Gretchen Bleiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-bleiler/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Athletes often excel in practice but falter under competition pressure; breathing and self‑affirmation help regain focus.

**In simple terms:** Practice success can fail under pressure; breathing and self‑talk help.

Key Takeaway

Use breath and positive self‑talk to calm nerves.

Themes

performance anxiety mindfulness self‑affirmation

Mood

determined reflective

Type

motivational inspirational

When to use this quote

- Olympic competition
- halfpipe training
- pre‑event routine
- public speaking

Key Concepts

sports psychology pressure management

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you integrate mental rehearsal with breathing?
- What triggers your performance anxiety?

A Different Perspective

Breathing alone may not fully eliminate anxiety; mental rehearsal is also needed.

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[Competing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competing/) [Competition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competition/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Olympics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympics/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

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