ANSIEDADE EM JOVENS PRATICANTES DE GINÁSTICA RÍTMICA: UM OBSTÁCULO INVISÍVEL AO DESEMPENHO?

Abstract

The present article aims to analyze the relationship between pre-competitive anxiety and sports performance in young athletes who practice rhythmic gymnastics, understanding how emotional, social, and technical factors influence these athletes’ preparation and performance. Anxiety is understood here as an emotion that can be functional or dysfunctional, depending on its intensity and on the support offered to the athletes. The research was conducted through a theoretical essay, gathering studies on sport psychology, state and trait anxiety, and the specific demands of rhythmic gymnastics. It was observed that aesthetic pressure, technical perfectionism, and external expectations significantly contribute to the experience of anxiety. It is concluded that anxiety can act both as a motivating factor and as an obstacle to performance, depending on the emotional support available in the training environment.