Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Elite Athletics & The Olympic Spirit 7

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four young sports stars describing the sudden loss of privacy and the harsh criticism they face from sports journalists and social media.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people/sections (A-D). The people/sections may be chosen more than once.

Which person/section

1   regrets ignoring a warning given by experienced professionals?

2   points out that their critics usually lack practical experience in the discipline?

3   has taken steps to physically remove digital temptations from their devices?

4   was shocked by how swiftly adoration changes to hostility following a slip-up?

5   expresses remorse over the disruption their career has caused to their relatives?

6   accuses the press of fabricating stories to generate more online traffic?

7   confesses to having previously underestimated the psychological toll of being famous?

8   mentions a specific instance where online hate directly harmed their sporting execution?

9   highlights the jarring difference between their past anonymity and present fame?

10   accepts that enduring public judgment is now an unavoidable aspect of their profession?

The Price of Gold: Young Athletes on Surviving the Spotlight

A Liam – Footballer

When I signed my first major contract, I took it for granted that I was mentally prepared for the limelight. I’d attended media training seminars provided by my club, so I arrogantly assumed the transition into the public eye would be a breeze. However, nothing could have equipped me for the reality of paparazzi camping out at my usual spots. While the sports journalists dissecting my every pass on the pitch is something I can handle, the constant intrusion into my private life is a bitter pill to swallow. What really gets me down is the knock-on effect it has on my family. My parents can’t even go to the supermarket without being hounded by reporters for quotes, and I feel a profound sense of guilt for bringing that chaos to their doorstep. I am repeatedly told to keep my head down, but if I had known how overwhelming this constant surveillance would be, I might have reconsidered my career path entirely.

B Maya – Tennis Player

Stepping onto the professional tennis circuit as a teenager happened practically overnight, and initially, I basked in the glowing praise from the press. Senior players had explicitly cautioned me against reading social media comments, warning me that it would eventually destroy my confidence. Foolishly, I brushed their advice aside, utterly convinced I had a thick enough skin to laugh off the internet trolls. That was a massive mistake. During a crucial semi-final last year, I made a couple of clumsy unforced errors. During the break, I couldn’t stop thinking about the vicious messages I knew were flooding my feed. My anxiety skyrocketed, my serve completely fell apart, and I lost the match solely because I let those invisible critics get inside my head. My mother was devastated for me, but the journalists showed no mercy the next day. I’ve had to learn the hard way that feeding the negativity is a recipe for disaster.

C Noah – Swimmer

In the world of competitive swimming, fractions of a second determine your worth, and the media scrutiny is absolutely relentless. What infuriates me most isn’t the constructive feedback from my coaches, but the sensationalist headlines published by certain reporters. It seems they are perfectly happy to twist facts or entirely invent feuds between athletes just to boost their website engagement. Last month, a tabloid completely fabricated a story about me falling out with my main training partner! At first, I felt an overwhelming urge to publicly defend myself against these ridiculous claims. However, I soon realised that being the target of unfair rumours is simply part of the territory when you are at the top of your game, and you just have to grin and bear it. To preserve my sanity, I’ve taken drastic measures. I’ve completely uninstalled all networking applications from my smartphone. Consequently, my mind is much clearer, and I no longer care about the digital noise.

D Chloe – Gymnast

Just a year ago, I was a completely unknown teenager competing in mostly empty local gymnasiums. Winning gold at the world championships thrust me into the global spotlight at a dizzying speed, and going from a nobody to a household name has been incredibly disorienting. Initially, the public showered me with affection, treating me like a national treasure. However, the dark side of this fame revealed itself during the winter qualifiers. I slightly misjudged a landing and took a tumble on the mat. Within minutes, the very same online fans who had previously praised me were posting nasty, unforgiving comments, labelling me a failure. It was a harsh awakening. What truly irritates me about these keyboard warriors is that ninety percent of them have never even set foot on a balance beam. It is absurd to be fiercely judged by individuals who haven’t got the faintest idea of the immense physical difficulty involved in our routines. Now, I just let my gymnastics do the talking.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four individuals talking about the unsung heroes of elite sports, such as physiotherapists, nutritionists, and equipment managers.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people/sections (A-D). The people/sections may be chosen more than once.

Which person/section

1   regrets taking this professional’s vital contribution for granted in the past?

2   explains how a specific intervention prevented a disastrous early retirement?

3   highlights the highly repetitive and meticulous nature of the professional’s daily tasks?

4   was caught off guard by the severe psychological impact of their athletic discipline?

5   notes that the expert had to completely transform their pre-existing daily routines?

6   praises the specialist for maintaining an incredibly composed demeanor during an emergency?

7   points out that the average spectator fundamentally misunderstands the complexity of this role?

8   mentions that adopting a completely different cognitive approach drastically enhanced their results?

9   admits to having been initially stubborn about following the specialist’s guidance?

10   appreciates the intense scrutiny the professional applies to guarantee the athlete’s physical security?

The Unsung Heroes of Elite Sports

A Julian (Cyclist)

When I first turned professional, I foolishly assumed my success was entirely down to my own stamina. I deeply regret not recognising the tireless efforts of my chief mechanic, David, much sooner. While I am out in the spotlight, he is hidden away in the garage, undertaking the seemingly monotonous chore of meticulously cleaning, lubricating, and fine-tuning every single component of my racing bike. It’s an incredibly repetitive task, but his unwavering attention to detail is absolutely astonishing. Had he overlooked a microscopic fault in the carbon frame during last month’s tour, a descent at eighty kilometres per hour could easily have resulted in a catastrophic crash. Ultimately, I rely on his intense scrutiny to keep me out of harm’s way. Although my sports psychologist recently overhauled my pre-race mental routine, it is David’s unsung craftsmanship that genuinely keeps my wheels turning.

B Chloe (Gymnast)

Gymnastics places an extraordinarily heavy burden on the human body, and without my physiotherapist, Elena, I wouldn’t be competing today. Two years ago, I misjudged a vault and landed awkwardly, hearing a sickening pop in my knee. I was utterly convinced that my days on the mat were over. As panic set in, Elena rushed to my side; her ability to remain completely unflappable in such a highly stressful situation instantly grounded me. The subsequent rehabilitation was a gruelling, drawn-out process. There were moments when the muscular ache was so intense I simply wanted to give up, but she continuously pushed me forward. Thanks to her targeted, innovative therapies, an injury that would typically trigger a premature end to a gymnast’s career was fully healed. She is the invisible force behind every medal I manage to win, piecing me back together whenever I shatter.

C Marcus (Swimmer)

There is a widespread misconception among the general public that elite swimmers simply burn off whatever they consume, allowing us to gorge on junk food. My sports nutritionist, Liam, constantly battles this flawed assumption. When we first teamed up, he bluntly informed me that my nutritional intake was a complete disaster. I was heavily set in my ways and initially quite reluctant to discard my usual pre-race meals, convinced they were giving me a competitive edge. However, after pushing through my initial defiance, Liam completely restructured my grocery list. He replaced my sugar-heavy snacks with bespoke, scientifically calculated meal plans designed to sustain my energy levels over a rigorous tournament. The transformation has been remarkable. Despite the emergency repairs occasionally needed by our equipment managers, it is Liam’s total overhaul of my eating habits that has shaved precious seconds off my personal best.

D Sofia (Tennis Player)

Tennis can be an incredibly isolating profession. When I transitioned to the senior tour, the sheer weight of expectation caught me completely unawares. I hadn’t anticipated just how draining the constant fear of losing would be on my wellbeing. My confidence plummeted, and I seriously considered walking away from the court. That was when I began working with a mental conditioning coach. Instead of fixing my backhand, she taught me how to manage my inner critic. We worked on cognitive strategies to ensure I wasn’t paralyzed by a bad serve. Refocusing my attention on the immediate process, rather than obsessing over the final score, completely revolutionized my gameplay. While a physiotherapist might treat a sprained ankle, curing a fractured mindset is far more complex. Adopting her psychological techniques didn’t just save my career; it brought the joy back into my matches.

Exercises:   123456