Katie Ledecky made history when she won the four freestyle swimming event between 200 and 1500 meters at the recently concluded 2015 World Swimming Championships in Kazan, Russia. Her athletic feat was singularly remarkable to be sure. However, I’m more interested in what led her to this place, particularly the role that her parents played in her amazing mental strength.

The thoughts I am about to share from Ledecky’s coach, her parents, and herself speak to issues that I see frequently in my work with athletes: expectations, pressure, and, most importantly, fear of failure.

A recent article in the New York Times offered some insights into Ledecky’s psychology that has led to her success.

From her coach, Bruce Gemmell, “Most children, start out carefree only to be tripped up by fear as they venture deeper into their pursuit. Sometimes we’re not kind to them, the sport’s not kind to them, and they sort of become that way. It could be classmates, it could be media, it could be teammates, it can be various people who are trying to be very helpful and sort of cast this net of creating failure as something to be afraid of.”

About her parents, “Ledecky is the way she is partly because of a combination of her mental toughness and the unconditional love of her inner circle. Ledecky’s parents, Mary Gen and Dave, dispense hugs, not technical advice, leaving the postrace analysis to Ledecky’s coaches. They support her swimming but do not smother her with expectations. Their view is that whatever she accomplishes in the water is but one strand in a rich life tapestry that includes academics and service and family.”

More from Gemmel, “It’s such a safe environment to go out and do something that you love and try your hardest. At the end of the day, Mom and Dad are still going to love you, your coach is still going to coach you, your friends are still going to be your friends. To get kids to grasp that, that’s sometimes difficult.”

Finally, Katie Ledecky summed it up briefly, yet so profoundly, “I wasn’t afraid to fail. I had nothing to lose.”

If every young athlete could embrace that attitude, everyone would find success and achieve their own personal athletic greatness.

Unfortunately, young athletes can only adopt this wonderful attitude if their parents, coaches, and the greater sports culture also embrace that attitude. Sadly, this attitude is in short supply these days.

As a parent or coach, are you willing to resist the pressure from the ‘youth sports industrial complex’ and do what’s best for the children?