Olympus or Tartarus

All eyes were on the Olympic torch burning brightly in Paris this summer. La Ville Lumière, the final destination for the efforts of numerous athletes and a meeting point for the world’s best, was the scene of the Olympic spirit in all its glory. Giving everything to achieve their goals; whether to win a medal, to get to the final or to simply reach the starting line, these are the athletes’ motivations that have led them to experience a whole spectrum of emotions, including those who got to compete in Paris and those who fell short of Olympic classification.     

 

The Olympic Games are always an opportunity to raise awareness about mental health, given it’s the sporting event with the most media coverage, in which the most number of athletes participate. In the past few years, the dialogue about mental health in the sporting world has gained momentum, gaining recognition as an integral part of athletes’ performance and wellbeing. Health is not just physical, but also mental, and needs to be trained and cared for accordingly. 

 

Good mental health allows us to manage emotions, maintain healthy relationships and face the challenges of daily life with a positive attitude. In the sporting world, this translates as staying focused, performing under pressure and staying strong when faced with high expectations, competitiveness or a sudden turn of events. Dealing with success and failure, living it down and staying motivated are an athlete’s daily challenges. Even then, everyday life can sometimes be disrupted by an injury or a personal event. So, how do we keep our emotions in check? What are the tools and techniques available to manage uncertainty?

 

Self-care is fundamental to wellbeing. Establishing a balance between training, competing and personal life is crucial. Being able to distance oneself from the latter will allow an athlete to avoid mental exhaustion. 

 

Meticulous planning, with a clear vision of realistic goals and objectives and which prioritises rest and recovery, is fundamental. It’s also important to set aside time for your enjoyment of personal activities that bring you joy and satisfaction, as well as time for your passions and interests - and time to work on the “you” unrelated to sport, allowing your personality to express itself in all aspects.

 

External support, from family and a professional, is essential. A sports psychologist can offer you tools and resources to get through times of extreme stress and frustration. A safe space to talk about difficult feelings and ideas can turn your dialogue into a process of improvement, where you establish techniques and future self-care routines, such as keeping a diary, reading or walking.  

 

More and more athletes and coaches are recognising the importance of mental health and are willing to talk about their experiences. This is helping to reduce the stigma around the topic and to promote a more holistic approach to athletes’ wellbeing. In the future, we hope for a more proactive approach involving the prevention and care for mental health, including a didactic stance from an early age and the inclusion of mental health professionals as an integral part of an athlete’s support team.

 

Mental care is just as crucial for athletes’ success and wellbeing as physical training. Raising awareness is the first step.