How an Olympic bobsleigh athlete learned to weather the storm

We hear from British bobsleigh athlete, three-time champion shot putter and Olympian Adele Nicholl on decision making under pressure, resilience and why high performance is built through self-awareness, accountability and adaptability.In this episode of Dentistry Talks, Adele explores what elite sport can teach dental professionals about handling pressure, making difficult choices and staying calm when plans change. Drawing on her Olympic career, psychology background and experience speaking to business leaders, she explains why good decision making is a skill that can be learned, practised and improved over time.Adele reflects on the importance of taking responsibility for how we respond to setbacks, why self-belief matters when others do not understand your path, and how developing a ‘pencil plan’ can help professionals remain flexible without losing sight of long-term goals.The conversation also explores resilience, confidence, delayed gratification and the value of knowing yourself well enough to make decisions from clarity rather than fear.Topics include:Decision making under pressureWhat dentistry can learn from elite sportResilience, setbacks and self-awarenessAccountability and taking ownershipWhy adaptability matters in high-performance environmentsTrusting your gut while making considered choices.