May is Mental Health Awareness Month here in the US, a time dedicated to breaking the stigma around mental health issues and promoting ways to get support. All month on the podcast, we will share stories and interviews that highlight the importance of protecting the mental health of Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
Athletes’ mental health took center stage during the Tokyo 2020 Games. Many felt the stresses of trying to train and compete during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID protocols during Tokyo 2020 also put everyone going to the Games through a lot of stress (we can attest to that from our own experiences in getting to Beijing 2022). But one of the biggest mental health stories from these Games was Simone Biles’ withdrawal from the artistic gymnastics team competition because she developed a case of the twisties, a mental block that affected her physical abilities.
Many athletes have been gracious enough to share their mental health journeys with us. Below is a list of our episodes, so you can learn more from them:
After the Olympics with Samantha Schultz
Modern pentathlete Samantha Schultz competed at the Tokyo Olympics, the highest pinnacle of athletic success. Then what? Samantha talks about the difficult transition out of elite competition, and recognizing and seeking treatment for an eating disorder.
Irish Winter Olympian Brendan Doyle
Skeleton athlete Brendan Doyle is fighting an uphill battle as a winter athlete in a country with no financial support for winter sports. Brendan has faced much darker moments in his personal life. He shares how sport has played a big part in his ability to manage his depression.
The Olympic Mindset with Erin Aldrich-Shean
Sure physical ability is important in elite sports, but what mental skills do you need to be a champion? Olympian Erin Aldrich-Shean shares what it takes and how that can be applied to any endeavor. Erin also discusses how she dealt with the consequences of an abusive coach.
Book Club: The Hard Parts by Oksana Masters
Oksana Masters is the most decorated Paralympian in American history. But her story includes as much tragedy as triumph. Her autobiography details the neglect, abuse, struggles, self-doubt, and pain that she struggled with despite her success.
Olympic Gold Medalist Michelle Carter
Michelle Carter is the Shot Diva, not only because of her success on the field, but also for her willingness to share how ADHD and dyslexia have affected her life. Michelle talks about the positives and negatives of ADHD and dyslexia for her sport and strategies she uses to manage.
Ginny Fuchs and OCD
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is often a punchline, but living with the disorder is no joke. Olympic boxer Ginny Fuchs explains how OCD manifests for her, how she copes, and how boxing plays a huge role in her mental health.
ADHD in Elite Athletes
Simone Biles and Michael Phelps share more than a huge collection of Olympic medals – both have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Dr. Claudia Reardon, Associate Professor at the Department of Psychiatry of University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and co-chair of the International Olympic Committee’s working group “Mental Health in Elite Athletes,” explains how athletes can manage and excel with ADHD, and the roadblocks they may face.
Sports Psychology with Dr. Kristin Keim
Dr. Keim first joined us in 2019 in the wake of the suicide of Olympic cyclist Kelly Catlin. We discussed the mental health challenges that are unique to elite athletes, and what can be done to protect Olympians. Kristin also spoke with us in 2021 about how athletes were managing their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics. She will be back on the show later this month to share how mental challenges for athletes have – and have not – changed in recent years.
Emily Cook on Overcoming Adversity
Skiing aerialist Emily Cook suffered a devastating injury, missing out on the 2002 Winter Olympics. Her physical injuries required a long time and tremendous amount of work to heal, but how did she find the courage to get back on skis? The three time Olympian shares her journey and what kept her going through her long career.
Tune into the Podcast this Month
We speak with Olympic bronze medalist, figure skater Gracie Gold. Last year, Gracie published a candid and powerful memoir, Outofshapeworthlessloser: A Memoir of Figure Skating, F*cking Up, and Figuring It Out. Gracie spoke with us about her experience and how the world of figure skating still does not do enough to protect young athletes.
Need Resources?
If you or a loved one need help, 988 is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline across the US. Here are just a few of the many additional resources available:
- U.S. Center for Safe Sport – to report abuse or misconduct by individuals in the US Olympic and Paralympic movement including athletes, coaches, judges, or officials
- National Eating Disorder Disorder Association – confidential screening tool, helpline, treatment finder, and educational information
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – provides support and education for patients and their families through online resources and local organizations
- Athlete Mental Health Alliance (AMHA) – amplifies athletes’ voices in finding solutions for mental health issues in elite athletes
- National Association for Athletes’ Mental Health (NAAMH) – provides support, education and advocacy for mental health issues for athletes of all levels
–Alison Brown
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