Competing on the world stage, Olympic athletes face immense pressure to perform their best and represent their country. Mental health dominated Olympic conversations in 2021 after U.S.
gymnast Simone Biles withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics, citing a disconnect between her brain and body and writing that she felt “the weight of the world on [her] shoulders.” Conversations around the toll elite sports can take on mental health have shifted in recent years, and athletes are talking more openly about the ups and downs of competing. Five former Seattle-area Olympians spoke with The Seattle Times about the mental pressures of competing on the biggest stage in sports — and the challenge of adjusting back to normal life afterward.
They all said the culture around mental health in sports has changed significantly since they competed in the Olympics between 2002 and 2016. “It’s seen more as a necessary tool in the kit, and it’s not looked down upon as it once was,” said Jeremy Taiwo, a University of Washington graduate who placed 11th in the decathlon in 2016. “If you’re not utilizing it, you are missing out on a super crucial tool.
” Some of the athletes said they had worked with sports psychologists, specialists who use psychology to help athletes train and perform at a high level. But at that point, broader mental health resources were harder to come by for Olympians. Now, the U.
S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has built out its mental health services, employing.