‘The Yips’ Are Real and They Can Happen to Anyone

KQED's Forum

KQED

News, Politics, News Commentary

4.2 • 726 Ratings

🗓️ 20 February 2026

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Figure skater Ilia Malinin’s shocking 8th place finish at the Winter Olympics is reigniting conversation about “the yips” or “the twisties.” Whatever you call them, elite athletes can suddenly lose the ability to perform skills they’ve practiced countless times – finding themselves unable to throw a baseball, or putt, in a straight line. Or to land the quadruple axel they’ve practiced for years. We explore what causes “the yips,” how athletes can bounce back and what the rest of us can learn from performance psychology. Have you ever lost access to a skill under pressure? What did you do? Guests: Bonnie Tsui, journalist; author of "Why We Swim" and "On Muscle: The Stuff That Moves Us and Why It Matters" Dr. Daya Grant, neuroscientist; certified Mental Performance Consultant listed in the United States, Olympic and Paralympic Committee directory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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1:02.5	From KQED.
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1:10.9	For fans of the Winter Olympics, many were stunned as they watched U.S. figure skater Ilya Malin's gold medal dreams vanish into an eighth place finish, though perhaps no one
1:16.3	more stunned than Malinin himself.
1:18.3	Here's the moment his free skate ended.
1:21.3	This is heartbreaking for Ilya, and you can see it on his face.
1:32.5	That was shocking. He is shocked.
	...

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