FOMO: The Athlete’s Battle

Every athlete knows FOMO—the Fear of Missing Out. But not the kind people talk about when they miss a party or a night out. No, this is Sports FOMO.

Missing a competition.
Missing the perfect training session.
Missing the chance to prove yourself—again and again.

Because in sports, proving yourself never stops. There’s always someone training harder, pushing further, competing more. And if you’re not there? You’re falling behind. At least, that’s what it feels like.

And so, you keep going. Because stopping isn’t an option. FOMO isn`t resting….

You escape winters to train year-round.
You jump into every opportunity—good or bad conditions, prepared or not.
You beat the guys, get beaten by them, and come back stronger just to prove them wrong.
You sacrifice recovery, celebrations, even happiness—because FOMO won’t let you stop.

Injured or not.  Every athlete experiences FOMO at some point. The feeling of missing out on an event with the opportunity to perform, hurts. We didn’t get the change to connect with the community and perform the sports we love.  Fomo is proving yourself again and again. You just move on and not celebrate good wins. (The mentality of: we all hate to lose and ..not love to win).

As a professional athlete, you always want  to become the best. You hate losing.  Number one, that is what counts. You won’t miss any competition or good session.  And if so, you feel the Fomo. The Fear of Missing out on that one session, one single session. But becoming the best you can never miss one session..

But will it ever be enough?

The Reality Check: It Never Is.

Let me tell you something most athletes won’t admit—it’s never enough.

You push harder.
You compete more.
You land podiums, titles, sponsorships—but still, you feel the need to do more, because FOMO.

And for female athletes, the fight is even harder.

We’ve won World Championships, European Championships, national titles. We’ve competed in men’s divisions, played, ride, raced, skated, and surfed among the best. Yet we still have to prove ourselves.

Because sometimes, there isn’t even a women’s division.
Because prize money is still unequal (getting better day – by – day).
Because we deliver results without the same funding, training, or recognition.
Because no matter how much we achieve, we are still questioned.

And that fuels the FOMO.

The need to show up, to perform, to never rest.
To enter competitions where you’re not even scored fairly.
To push through exhaustion just to silence the doubts—yours and theirs.

There is no rest, because FOMO is not resting.

Until one day, the fun is gone.

The pressure for results, the doubts, the loneliness and your clearly lost. It is never enough, never satisfied, you always keep on looking up. Forget where you came from and the why you started in the first place.

The Turning Point: From FOMO to JOMO

It’s at that moment you realize—this isn’t sustainable.

You’ve been so focused on proving yourself that you’ve forgotten why you started in the first place…? The passion. The joy. The love for the sport.

And that’s when you make a choice: FOMO or JOMO?

The Fear of Missing Out on proving yourself?
Or the Joy of Missing Out on what doesn’t serve you?

Because here’s the truth:

Titles don’t define you.

Prize money doesn’t determine your worth.

 A perfect social media picture isn’t more important than real results (might pay better in bikini though).

Be yourself. That is so much more valuable than any championship title.

Put yourself first again. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone but yourself.

Instead of chasing what everyone else is doing, embrace your own journey. Let them be. Let them go.

Redefining Success: The Scenic Route

Yes, the fast highway to success looks appealing. But the detour? That’s where you grow.

Maybe you’ll return to competition stronger.
Maybe you’ll discover a new passion.
Maybe you’ll redefine success on your own terms.

Because setbacks aren’t the end—they’re a reset. They teach you resilience, patience, and how to thrive even when the path isn’t clear.

And in the end?

You will find your way back.
Not because of FOMO.
But because you chose the journey that truly belongs to you.

Instead of FOMO, do the JOMO: “joy of missing out” and embrace your own goals.

Don`t hide your magic!

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