As Stigma Fades, Paris Olympians Prioritize Mental Health

AFP/APP

Los Angeles: Superstar gymnast Simone Biles, who is heading to her third Olympics, attributes her extraordinary physical skills to a strong focus on mental health—a topic that has long been taboo in elite sports.

“Seeing my therapist every Thursday is almost like a ritual for me,” Biles shared shortly after securing her spot in the Paris Games with an all-around victory at the US trials. “That’s why I’m here today.”

Mental well-being has become as crucial as physical strength and conditioning for elite athletes, who have historically faced immense pressure, anxiety, and fear of failure in silence.

When Biles, a four-time gold medalist from the 2016 Rio Olympics, withdrew from most of her events at the Tokyo Games due to mental health struggles and a disorienting condition known as the “twisties,” she faced both sympathy and criticism.

Some critics labeled her a quitter who jeopardized the US team’s chances for gold.

Biles’s French coach, Cecile Landi, noted that Biles’s decision helped challenge the stigma surrounding mental health, benefiting athletes across all sports. “It used to be almost shameful to talk to a therapist,” Landi said. 

“You had a problem, you had issues.” Now, she added, “It’s about being proactive and ensuring you become the best athlete and person you can be.”

Mental health is increasingly recognized as a key factor in athletic success. In response, sports federations and governing bodies are providing resources and incorporating mental health professionals into their teams.

For the Paris Games, about 90 national team staffs will include credentialed mental health officers, and organizers have introduced various amenities to support mental well-being.

Michael Phelps, the swimming superstar, has openly discussed his struggles with depression following his Olympic successes, revealing in 201 that he experienced severe depression after each Olympics.

Similarly, US swimmer Caeleb Dressel, who won five gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics, withdrew from the 2022 Swimming World Championships for unspecified medical reasons and later spoke about the mental toll of his quest for perfection. Dressel, who took almost a year off, is now set to compete in Paris and defend two of his Tokyo gold medals.

Teammate Regan Smith, who faced a drop in form after setting world records in 2019 and winning two silver medals and a bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, credits her work with sports psychologist Emily Klueh for revitalizing her career.

Smith, now training with Phelps’s former coach Bob Bowman, regained the 100m backstroke world record at the US Olympic trials. “I felt scared at first,” Smith said about seeking therapy. “I was afraid to ask for help, but once I did, I realized what I had been missing out on for so long.”

Freestyle sprinter Jack Alexy, who will compete in his first Olympics, has not yet sought therapy but recognizes the importance of mental fitness. “I took matters into my own hands and started journaling a year and a half ago,” he said. “That helped me analyze my preparation and set me up for success. It’s crucial to monitor the mental side, just as much as the physical.”