Why some people crumble when it's crunch time

FEW of us have ever been in the position of Joseph Schooling at the 2016 Olympics. Even for someone with shoulders so broad, the weight of a nation's hopes and expectations must not be easy to carry. Yet, he kept his cool and put on the performance of a lifetime, defeating the legendary Michael Phelps along the way.

The question is: why do some people thrive when it's crunch time and some people fall apart?

I'm referring to performance anxiety - and no, it's not what you are thinking of. It's that awful knot in the belly, that catch in the throat, when the pressure is on to accomplish something - usually in the public eye - but nerves get in the way.

Some people get stage fright before a presentation. Some people panic during a competition. Some people get performance anxiety when other…