Is 2021 The Year Athletes Finally Prioritise Their Mental Health Over Competition?
Traditionally, the picture of an athlete comes complete with rigorous back-breaking training, unfathomable levels of dedication, and the expectation of sacrifice in order to achieve greatness. Exceeding and overcoming every barrier or limit, physical or mental. Blood, sweat, and tears: that’s what champions are made of. But as we’re stepping into an age where advocating for our mental health and our needs is being normalised (about time), athletes are slowly but surely stepping out from under the excruciating pressure of their sport and putting themselves first.
It started with Naomi Osaka. Coined to be a major contender – if not the major contender – for the women’s title at the French Open, tennis fans the world over were shocked to hear of the 23 year-old’s decision to bow out of the annual tournament following her absence from the tournament’s press conferences. Rumours were aflutter before an official statement was released, but when it emerged that Osaka was stepping back for the sake of her mental health, the majority of the public and sporting personalities backed her. This was the first time that a world-acclaimed athlete – no less, a woman of colour – was publicly putting their mental health before the much-coveted title.
In a statement published to her Instagram, she wrote:
“…The truth is that I have suffered long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018 and I have had a really hard time coping with that. Anyone that knows knows I’m introverted, and anyone that has seen me at the tournaments will notice that I’m often wearing headphones as that helps dull my social anxiety. Though the tennis press has always been kind to me (and I wanna apologize especially to all the cool journalists who I may have hurt), I am not a natural public speaker and get huge waves of anxiety before I speak to the world’s media. I get really nervous and find it stressful to always try to engage and give you the best answers I can. So here in Paris I was already feeling vulnerable and anxious so I thought it was better to exercise self-care and skip the press conferences… I’m gonna take some time away from the court now, but when the time is right I really want to work with the Tour to discuss ways we can make things better for the players, press and fans.”
The Internet (for the most part) unanimously responded with well wishes and overwhelming support for Osaka and her decision to pull herself out of the running, with the tennis star being praised for prioritising her mental health.
With the Olympics in full swing, it became clear that Osaka would not be alone in the decision to put mental wellbeing over medals as another of the world’s most famous athletes took a step back. Simone Biles made a last-minute decision to pull out of the women’s team final. Shortly after she missed her moment to compete further in the category, Biles released a statement, explaining that her choice was for her mental health.
After leaving the arena, Biles said:
“After the performance I did, I just didn’t want to go on. I have to focus on my mental health. I just think mental health is more prevalent in sports right now. We have to protect our minds and our bodies and not just go out and do what the world wants us to do. I don’t trust myself as much anymore. Maybe it’s getting older. There were a couple of days when everybody tweets you and you feel the weight of the world. We’re not just athletes. We’re people at the end of the day and sometimes you just have to step back.”
She added that Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal from the French Open inspired her decision: “I say put mental health first. Because if you don't, then you're not going to enjoy your sport and you're not going to succeed as much as you want to. So it's OK sometimes to even sit out the big competitions to focus on yourself, because it shows how strong of a competitor and person that you really are — rather than just battle through it.”
Following Biles’ press conference, chief executive of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Sarah Hirshland, said that the gymnast had “made us so proud,” adding: “We applaud your decision to prioritise your mental wellness over all else and offer you the full support and resources of our Team USA community as you navigate the journey ahead.”
USA gymnastics supported her decision, saying: “Simone will continue to be evaluated daily to determine whether or not to participate in next week’s individual event finals. We wholeheartedly support Simone’s decision and applaud her bravery in prioritising her wellbeing. Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many.”
With two of the world’s most celebrated athletes publicly prioritising their mental health in an industry that regularly pushes them to the brink, does this mean the world of sport and athletics will begin to set a new standard of competition and the means to succeed? We hope so.
Image credit: Simone Biles/Instagram
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