The Elite Athlete "Disorder"

“The best athletes probably walk right up to the cliff’s edge, but stop,” says Dr. Ryan Davis. “The problem is, the cliff is invisible.” Here’s the paradox: the trait that drives many athletes to Olympic podiums is technically a personality disorder — but only if it goes too far.

The Double-Edged Sword 

“Look to your left, look to your right,” Davis recalls a medical school professor saying. “Probably one or two of them have OCPD.” Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder isn’t what most people think — it’s not about washing hands or checking locks. It’s about an unrelenting drive for perfection, order, and control. And according to Davis, it’s surprisingly common among elite athletes.

What makes OCPD different from normal perfectionism?

• The OCPD athlete feels compelled to outdo everyone else: “I must make 110 shots because my competitors are making 100”

• They’re rigid about their standards to a point that often interferes with their goals

• They’re driven by an overwhelming need to be the best, not just excellent

• They see their perfectionism as completely rational, even when it’s destructive

This trait, while potentially destructive, can drive athletic achievement. It pushes athletes to:

• Be the first one in, last one out

• Never skip steps in training

• Maintain extremely high standards

• Push beyond what others consider “good enough”

The Danger Zone

 The problem isn’t the perfectionism — it’s when it becomes inflexible. “For athletes, to be elite, you’ve got to be a perfectionist,” Davis explains. But there’s a tipping point where this same trait starts to work against you:

• Recovery becomes seen as weakness

• Good performances are never satisfying

• The pursuit of excellence becomes isolating

• Standards become impossible to meet

The Protection System 

“It’s really tricky,” Davis notes, “because the best athletes probably walk up straight to the cliff’s edge.” The solution isn’t to stop being perfectionistic — it’s to build safeguards that prevent you from going too far. The most effective athletes maintain their high standards while:

• Accepting strategic rest periods

• Listening to trusted advisors

• Maintaining relationships outside sport

• Understanding when “good enough” is actually optimal

The Bottom Line 

OCPD traits, when properly channeled, can be rocket fuel for athletic excellence. The goal isn’t to eliminate perfectionism but to harness it while maintaining perspective on when it’s serving you versus controlling you.

Your Challenge for the Week

1. List areas where your perfectionism drives excellence versus creates problems

2. Identify one standard you hold that might be unnecessarily rigid

3. Create clear criteria for what constitutes “enough” in your training

4. Schedule mandatory recovery periods that are non-negotiable

5. Practice accepting “good enough” in low-stakes situations to build the skill

6. Build a trusted circle who can tell you when you’re approaching the cliff

Remember: The same traits that make you exceptional can become excessive. The key isn’t changing who you are — it’s channeling these traits effectively.

Check out the Full Interview with Dr. Ryan Davis

If you found this interesting, you will love the full interview with Dr. Ryan Davis! We go deeper into OCPD, mental health for athletes, managing stress, and much much more!

Check it out here: https://youtu.be/oFiWw6itciY?si=GmBFB5HxvTrsXyuv

Book Recommendation

Stealing Fire — https://amzn.to/3H3hVEe

It’s the biggest revolution you’ve never heard of, and it’s hiding in plain sight. Over the past decade, Silicon Valley executives like Eric Schmidt and Elon Musk, Special Operators like the Navy SEALs and the Green Berets, and maverick scientists like Sasha Shulgin and Amy Cuddy have turned everything we thought we knew about high performance upside down. Instead of grit, better habits, or 10,000 hours, these trailblazers have found a surprising short cut. They’re harnessing rare and controversial states of consciousness to solve critical challenges and outperform the competition.

Not everything in this book is legal within the confines of sport. This isn’t an invitation to bend the rules!