Sports covers mental health: Simone Bills, Michael Felps, and Rare Gassi …
Mental health problems have not become taboo in recent years. It’s becoming increasingly common for people from all walks of life to talk openly about it, and that includes top athletes. Behind the multi-million dollar contracts, success and trophies, there can be inner struggles that some stars have revealed throughout their careers. The International Olympic Committee in the 2023 report stated that 33.6 % of elite athletes were suffering from anxiety and depression. In addition, 26.4 % have mental health issues when they decide to resign an active sport. In honor of World Mental Health Day on October 10, we look back at some of the most notable cases.
The ever-smiling Simone Biles, who won three gold medals and one silver at the Paris Olympics, had a sad story. She lived with foster parents and was raised by her grandparents. She was also one of the victims of sexual abuse by USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar. He did not compete in the Tokyo Games: “I didn’t want to continue, I need to focus on my mental health.” “We need to look after our own minds and our bodies, and not do what everyone else wants us to do,” he said.
Another Olympic star, the swimmer is one of the most talked-about stories about the relationship between sports and mental health. After winning eight medals at the 2004 Athens Games, he suffered from depression. In 2014, he did it again. “I didn’t want to live, I didn’t eat or drink. I fought for my life more than I couldn’t imagine.” Michael Phelps argued that if everyone talked openly about these issues, it would “become normal” and become a positive thing. “We can help each other a lot by sharing what’s going on,” he said. Ricky Rubio, the basketball phenom who rose to international stardom, took to the court in August 2023. “At the time, I felt like I was the most cowardly person in the world. I couldn’t understand that after going through so much, I couldn’t overcome this.” A long career. “Looking back, I think I was very brave. My problems were bigger than basketball,” he explained during a press conference in February 2024. “Never too high, never too low” is one of his mottos. Balance and consistency. The AC Milan footballer opened up about his mental health struggles in an interview with The Co-op : “When you’re going through a really tough time, with depression or panic attacks, it doesn’t matter where you work or what situation you’re in in life, it’s another person inside you that you have to fight every day and every night. For me it was the best thing to leave Spain, I couldn\’t stand it. I had a very bad time. Je pensais que je ne pourrais plus jamais remettre des chaussures. \ “
La mort de Dani Dzhark, le capitaine éternel Espanyol, a frappé Andres Inest, l’un de ses amis les plus proches, est difficile. Cela a complètement détruit sa santé mentale. “I lost the will to live, took my pills and went to bed, which was the best part of my day,” he candidly told Wild Project. “I can have all the cars in the world and everything I want, but I still struggle to face life’s problems,” added the former Barcelona player, who has taken part in several awareness campaigns. Tennis legend Andre Agassi has revealed more about himself than ever before in his book, “Open.” In the memoir, the athlete admits to drug use and mental health issues, and even says that the pressures of everyday life made him hate the sport. The role of his wife, tennis player Steffi Graf, played a key role in his recovery. Agassi has worked with many organizations and events to raise awareness about the importance of mental health.
