Could you clarify what you mean? For example:

What separates "elite pain" from standard exhaustion? Cortisol and lactate. In a normal contest, lactate builds linearly. But in a painful duel at a critical 5-3 junction, researchers have observed a phenomenon called "anticipatory cortisol spike." Ten seconds before the critical point—before the serve, before the penalty shot, before the final move—the body floods with stress hormones. Hands tremble. Peripheral vision narrows. The athlete experiences something worse than fatigue: .

One of the greatest rivalries in chess history is between Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov. Their 1984 World Championship match is a prime example of a painful duel. The match was a marathon, lasting 48 games over five months. At one point, Karpov held a commanding 5-3 lead, needing just one more win to secure the title. However, the duel was controversially stopped by the FIDE president on health grounds, with Kasparov eventually managing to close the gap. The psychological torment of being so close to victory, only to have the match abandoned, undoubtedly represents a unique form of elite pain.