Dr Diane Chancelia Bouanga, a psychologist at Libreville's University Hospital Center, is working with Gabon's national Olympic team to help its young athletes build confidence and manage stress ahead of the Dakar 2026 competition. As a psychologist within the Gabonese National Olympic Committee, her role is to assist these young athletes in approaching competition with confidence, better managing their stress, mastering their emotions, and mobilizing their mental resources.
The young athletes, known as the Panthérets and Panthéreaux, are set to compete in a high-pressure environment, carrying the weight of Gabon's expectations. Dr Bouanga focuses on responsibility rather than pressure, citing George Bernard Shaw's quote, "Responsibility is the price of freedom." She believes that emphasizing responsibility helps the athletes understand the importance of their role and the commitment required to perform well.
To prepare the athletes mentally, Dr Bouanga and her team listen to their concerns, helping them articulate their feelings and break down stereotypes surrounding difficulty, pressure, and failure. They also undergo psycho-education on sports and its realities, enabling them to understand and manage their stress levels. The team takes a holistic approach, providing support for physical and emotional needs.
Dr Bouanga's primary concern is that the athletes may struggle with self-doubt due to excessive exposure on social media. To mitigate this, she relies on empathetic listening and psycho-education to remind them that every journey starts somewhere. The team also uses visualization techniques and positive affirmations to build confidence and resilience.
The athletes will spend 14 days away from their families, surrounded by 2,700 other competitors and the pressures of social media. Dr Bouanga aims to ensure that the experience is transformative, regardless of the outcome. She wants the athletes to return home with valuable life skills, including self-confidence, respect for themselves and others, discipline, humility, and solidarity.
The Dakar 2026 event, which began on October 31, 2026, at the Abdoulaye-Wade Stadium in Diamniadio, marks a significant moment for Gabon's young athletes. As they compete against their peers, Dr Bouanga's guidance will play a crucial role in shaping their mental approach to the challenges ahead. Her work extends beyond the competition, focusing on the long-term development of these young athletes.
Ultimately, Dr Bouanga hopes that the experience will have a lasting impact on the athletes, helping them grow into confident and responsible individuals. Her approach emphasizes the importance of teamwork, support, and a growth mindset, values that will benefit the athletes long after the competition is over.
Key points
- Dr Diane Chancelia Bouanga is working with Gabon's national Olympic team to help its young athletes build confidence and manage stress ahead of the Dakar 2026 competition.
