Samantha Bernardi

In everyday language, the term competition often evokes a sense of opposition and antagonism. Yet, an etymological look at its Latin root — com-petere — reveals a deeper meaning: “to strive together” or “to move jointly toward a goal.” This linguistic reinterpretation is not a mere exercise in philology, but a conceptual shift — one that relocates competition from the paradigm of conflict to that of collaborative action.

Philosophically, this points to a view of the other not as an obstacle, but as a condition for self-realization. The presence of others, in this sense, is not a threat to one’s identity, but a catalyst for personal and ontological growth — a you that reveals and strengthens the I.

This reflection brings us to the very heart of sports psychology, a discipline that transcends mere performance optimization.

The athlete is recognized as a whole person, a complex and integrated system where physicality, cognition, emotions, and relationships are inseparably connected. The sports psychologist is far more than a “mental coach”: they accompany the athlete through a process of self-awareness, functional autonomy, and integrated development. The goal is not just to enhance performance metrics, but to cultivate a form of well-being that is intrinsic and sustainable over time.

The approach I have long embraced — Cognitive Neuropsychological Psychotherapy — provides an extraordinarily rich theoretical framework. It views human experience as embodied, situated, and relational. Mind and body are not dualistic entities, but co-emergent aspects of the same phenomenological field. Memory is not a static warehouse, but a dynamic process that shapes the present, while biology is in constant feedback with the socio-cultural context. From this perspective, the athlete is not merely a performer of technical gestures, but a meaning-making being — an individual filled with emotions and personal narratives that profoundly shape their perception and interaction with the sporting world.

Psychological intervention, therefore, is not limited to symptom reduction (e.g., performance anxiety) or simple cognitive enhancement (e.g., focus training). It is a shared process of meaning-making — helping the athlete explore their limits and resources, process frustration or trauma, and construct an authentic, coherent sporting and human identity.

It is, in essence, a journey toward integration of the self. Thus, to compete is not simply to “run faster” or to “finish first.” It is an act of existential cohabitation in the arena of life — both athletic and everyday — lived with presence and awareness.

It means moving together: with the coach, with teammates, with opponents — but above all, in continuous and profound dialogue with oneself.

In this journey, the psychologist stands not as an external judge but as a participating witness — capable of supporting, challenging, reflecting, and empathically understanding. Their presence becomes a profoundly ethical and transformative act: a space of reflection, relationship, and performance where the athlete can meet their own subjectivity, recognize both potential and vulnerability, and rediscover the transcendent meaning of being in motion. Together.

This reinterpretation of competition is not an abstract ideal, but a practical framework for a more human — and ultimately more effective — approach to sport and to life.

Are you ready to redefine your idea of competition and embark on this journey with a new perspective?