a look at athletes obsessive compulsive disorders: nadal is at an advanced stage

It's often said that athletes rely entirely on their skills when they get to the competition. While this is true, sports competitions also involve a bit of luck, and victory or defeat can often hinge on a single moment. Therefore, many well-known or lesser-known athletes have some small superstitions or what can be called compulsions or quirks on the field.

These behaviors can cover all aspects of eating, wearing, living, and using, even including whether to step with the left foot or the right foot when entering the field...Nadal is the most typical representative among them, and his compulsions have really reached an advanced stage.

1. Stepping into the field with the right foot first

Although Nadal is left-handed in tennis, he always steps into the field with his right foot first without exception. Similarly, German footballer Özil also insists on stepping into the field with his right foot first and must not step on the sideline.

Other footballers with the same habit include Uruguay's Forlán and Raúl. What if they accidentally step with the left foot first? Raúl's answer is to go back to the player tunnel and walk again.

2. Arranging water bottles

This is probably Nadal's most famous quirk. During a match, he will always take a small sip from each of two bottles of water or drink (one of which must be cold), then place them on the ground next to his seat with the labels facing the court where he is about to serve.

Regarding this quirk, Nadal describes it this way: after drinking water, he places the two bottles in front of his left foot, one next to the other, with the labels facing the court. Nadal admits that this is a silly habit, but he doesn't see it as mere superstition; rather, it's a way to focus entirely on the match.

Nadal meticulously arranging his water bottles

During the 2015 Australian Open match against Anderson, a sudden gust of wind blew over one of Nadal's water bottles. Anderson kindly reminded the umpire, who then instructed the ball boy to rearrange the bottles, causing laughter among the audience.

​

3. Bouncing the ball, adjusting his shorts, wiping sweat, and fixing his hair

During a match, after every point, regardless of winning or losing, Nadal needs to ask the ball boy for a towel to wipe his sweat. Before serving, he has a series of mandatory actions: adjusting his shorts, fixing his hair, and bouncing the ball exactly five times.

According to foreign media statistics, Nadal once adjusted his hair 334 times in a single match.

Nadal habitually adjusting his shorts

But when it comes to hairstyles, Ronaldo is the true representative. On the field, he perfectly embodies the phrase 'head can be broken, but the hairstyle cannot be messed up.' It's said that before going on the field, Ronaldo uses half a bottle of hair gel to fix his hairstyle. During the Brazil World Cup, Ronaldo changed his hairstyle three times in three group matches, performing a 'hairstyle hat-trick.'

4. Eating

If you are a Virgo, you would definitely salute this 'severe OCD patient' for his way of eating energy gels. On the sidelines, Nadal always eats energy gels in the same way: tearing off the top wrapper, folding the other side, and patiently squeezing it with four fingers to suck it in.

Besides Nadal, other athletes also have many 'quirks.'

For example, Chinese badminton player Lin Dan has a unique habit of always preparing six identical rackets in terms of style and feel for each competition.

Although in men's badminton matches, due to the players' explosive power, it's common to break the strings, generally, two to three rackets are enough. Lin Dan's habit of bringing six rackets is indeed rare. Super Dan explains, 'Not a single racket can be missing, otherwise, I always feel something is missing, and I don't feel confident! This is my psychological requirement for myself, and it must be met.'

Chinese swimmer Xu Jiayu always loves to wear a yellow swim cap during competitions. In his view, the yellow swim cap is his lucky charm. Whether it's a domestic competition or an international event, regardless of what color swim caps the other Chinese team members wear, Xu Jiayu will always wear a yellow swim cap.

Besides equipment, many athletes use items for psychological cues. For example, basketball 'Air' Jordan has a deep obsession with North Carolina; he always wears North Carolina shorts during games. Sharpshooter Miller always keeps two 25-cent coins in his wristband.

In fact, athletes' compulsions are more of a habit on the field, serving as a psychological cue. Not all people with compulsive behaviors or thoughts are OCD patients. If these compulsive behaviors and thoughts are not severe, do not affect normal life and work, and do not cause significant distress, they do not need treatment. However, if someone is a severe OCD patient, they need to receive medication and psychological treatment.

 *Images in the article are sourced from the internet. Please inform us to delete if there is any infringement.