After winning two bronze medals at the ongoing Paris Olympics, and making history as the first female shooter from India to bag a medal at the Olympics, Manu Bhaker’s message to her fans included a humble plea for them before her third event to “not get angry” if she couldn’t add another accolade to her already impressive tally.

The 22-year-old voiced a fear that resonates with many athletes, especially those who find themselves in the national spotlight, shouldering the burden of 1.4 billion expectations. And while Bhaker may have gracefully handled the pressure and even gone on to win a second bronze, and earn the distinction of becoming the first Indian woman to win two medals at an Olympics, her words were a timely reminder of how even the most accomplished individuals are not immune to feeling the heat of public scrutiny, within and beyond the sports arena.