Every athlete has a pre race ritual. Some are grounded in deep focus. Some are quietly methodical.
Some are full on emotional thunderstorms. And some are so chaotic, confusing or wonderfully bizarre that you genuinely wonder how the athlete manages to function, let alone perform.
At GameFace GB, we’ve seen everything. From the peaceful and poetic to the frantic and absolutely unhinged. Pre race rituals are one of the most fascinating parts of sport because they reveal personality in the rawest form.
When the lights hit, nerves spike and the energy of competition starts buzzing through the body, athletes instinctively fall back to their rituals. These aren’t just habits. They’re anchors. They’re coping mechanisms. They’re identity markers. They are the things that help athletes feel ready.
This post highlights the full spectrum of pre race behaviours we capture, the psychology behind them and why these moments look incredible on camera.
Why Pre Race Rituals Matter So Much
Pre race rituals exist for one reason: the brain loves routine. Under pressure, routine feels safe. Athletes crave consistency because it keeps the mind steady when adrenaline is flooding the body.
Rituals help athletes:
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Control nerves
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Set their mindset
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Create focus
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Reduce distractions
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Build confidence
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Trigger “performance mode”
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Feel grounded and ready
When photographed, these rituals become powerful portraits of personality. They show the athlete before the performance, the human behind the outcome.
The Calm Athletes: Rituals of Focus and Stillness
Some athletes enter a state that looks almost supernatural. Their breathing slows. Their eyes soften. Their shoulders drop. They’re not thinking about pressure or outcomes. They’re simply present.
Here are the most common calm rituals we capture.
The Deep Breather
Standing still, eyes closed, slow controlled breaths. This athlete uses breath as their anchor and rarely rushes.
The Quiet Listener
Earphones in. Zero expression. A total headspace lock. They’re building emotional control through music and rhythm.
The Minimalist
No fuss. Stands still. Adjusts nothing. Says nothing. Their calmness almost intimidates teammates.
The Zen Walker
Paces slowly, hands behind back, eyes down, moving with intention. You could mistake them for a monk preparing to sprint.
These athletes photograph beautifully because calmness shows strength and emotional maturity.
The Focused Athletes: Rituals of Precision and Repetition
These athletes aren’t calm, but they’re not chaotic either. They are dialled in. Their rituals are calculated. They rehearse the same motions every time because consistency equals confidence.
The Gear Checker
They check every strap, lace, glove, pad and buckle four times. Not because it’s loose, but because checking calms their mind.
The Stancer
Practices their starting stance repeatedly. Adjusts foot placement. Re aligns their posture. Visualises every movement.
The Warmup Engineer
Their warmup is a blueprint. Same order. Same tempo. Same number of reps. If you changed a single thing, they’d combust.
The Visualiser
Stares into the distance replaying the race in their head. Every corner, every start, every moment is predicted before it happens.
These rituals show commitment and discipline. On camera they create sharp, powerful images that capture the athlete’s concentration.
The Emotional Athletes: Rituals Fueled by Fire
These are the athletes who feel everything. Their rituals are loud, expressive and completely unfiltered. They’re driven by energy, emotion and adrenaline.
The Shouter
Screams into the air. Roars. Slaps their chest. You feel their energy vibrating through the ground.
The Team Hypeman
Gets the whole squad jumping. Their ritual isn’t solo. It’s contagious. They transform anxiety into excitement.
The Beat Self Up Athlete
Not literally. But they slap their legs, shoulders, helmet or chest to fire up their nervous system.
The Bounce Machine
Bounces constantly. On the toes. Off the toes. Side to side. Everywhere. You cannot photograph them still.
These athletes look incredible on camera because emotion adds drama.
The Chaotic Athletes: Rituals That Make Zero Sense But Absolutely Work
Now we enter the fun part. The rituals nobody can explain, but that athlete depends on with their whole soul.
The Over Adjuster
Fixes their sleeves 12 times. Pulls their socks up and down. Re ties their shoes five times. None of it stays. It doesn’t matter. They must adjust.
The Sprint and Stop
Runs full speed for no reason. Stops suddenly. Looks around. Runs again. Nobody knows why.
The Random Shouter
Yells a single word like “fish” or “yep” or “GOOSE” for no reason. It makes perfect sense to them but nobody else.
The Equipment Whisperer
Talks to their gear. Has a full conversation with their bat, stick, ball or helmet. Encourages it. Threatens it. Who knows.
The Unplanned Acrobat
Does a cartwheel. Attempts a front roll. Does a weird half stretch half dance move. Pure chaos. Zero explanation.
These athletes are a photographer’s dream. Unpredictable moments create explosive, hilarious and unforgettable images.
The Superstitious Athletes: Rituals Bound by Rules Only They Understand
Superstitions run deep in sport. These athletes MUST follow their routine or disaster will strike. At least in their mind.
The Exact Step Counter
Must take a specific number of steps before starting. If they lose count, they start again.
The Lucky Gear Devotee
Always wears the same sock, glove, hairband or wrist tape. Even if it’s basically falling apart.
The No Touch Zone Athlete
Nobody is allowed to touch their equipment before the race. If you do, they act like you’ve cursed their entire season.
The Hidden Snack Ritual
Eats something oddly specific before performing. Half a banana. Three jelly babies. One square of chocolate. Never more. Never less.
Superstitions give athletes control. When captured, they reveal vulnerability and humanity.
Why These Rituals Look So Powerful in Photos
Pre race rituals create some of the best portraits we ever shoot because they show athletes:
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Unfiltered
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Honest
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Emotional
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Focused
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Human
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Unique
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Raw
They’re not posing. They’re being themselves.
Our style of photography enhances these moments through:
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Dramatic lighting
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Clean backgrounds
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Crisp details
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Subtle atmosphere effects
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Professional colour grading
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High end retouching
These rituals become iconic when photographed with purpose.
How GameFace GB Captures These Moments Naturally
We never interrupt the athlete’s process. We shoot around the ritual, not through it.
Our approach:
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Give athletes space
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Use long lenses to avoid disrupting routine
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Capture candid expressions
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Focus on hands, eyes and movement
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Let the athlete be fully themselves
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Work with coaches to understand boundaries
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Shoot with respect for the athlete’s mental prep
These moments belong to the athlete. We simply document them with care.
Final Thoughts: Rituals Make Sport Beautiful
Whether calm, focused, emotional, chaotic or deeply superstitious, pre race rituals are a vital part of the athlete’s identity. They help performance. They reflect personality. They show what sport means on a human level.
Every ritual has a story.
Every ritual has a purpose.
Every ritual deserves to be seen.
At GameFace GB, we love capturing these moments because they reveal the heart of sport before the action even begins.
