HOW MUCH PRESSURE IS TOO MUCH?
Some observers who support keeping projections internal said public targets could add to the pressure athletes already face when representing the nation.
“Public medal targets can raise the stakes in a way that goes beyond normal competitive pressure. Once an athlete is labelled a champion, the public can begin to treat winning as the only acceptable outcome,” said Ms Tao.
“A loss is then framed not simply as part of sport, but as a failure.”
She added that this misses the nature of high-performance sport, where results are never guaranteed and athletes can still come up against someone better on the day despite their preparations.
“Athletes understand that pressure comes with competing at the highest level,” said Ms Tao.
“What they should not have to carry is the weight of relentless judgment whenever they fall short of a public expectation.”
Nominated Member of Parliament Kenneth Goh pointed out that each Games features a mix of experienced athletes and young debutants.
Those who are more seasoned competitors are generally better accustomed to handling pressure, said the associate professor at Singapore Management University and president of Singapore Aquatics.
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