Mental health on the Olympic podium

Simone Biles takes another first - 16th August 2021

High level sportspeople are expected to shake off any sign of mental weakness and simply focus on the business of winning. Although these expectations remain largely the same, recently some sports celebrities have been speaking out about the psychological challenges they face.

During this year's Tokyo Olympics, four-time Olympic gold champion Simone Biles stunned international audiences when she withdrew from the team and later other gymnastic events, giving her mental state as the reason. The young athlete explained tearfully, "I have to do what's right for me," to protect "my health and well-being". She mentioned she'd not been in the right mindset shortly before the competition commenced.

And she certainly isn't alone. Retired Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps – winner of 23 Olympic gold medals – was extremely sympathetic, having wrestled with his own mental health issues. Observing Biles' struggle, the sports analyst stated it "broke my heart," before continuing, "We're human beings. Nobody is perfect. So yes, it is OK not to be OK."

This is something that the International Olympic Committee is very aware of and has consequently increased its mental health resources for the Games. A confidential helpline is in place to support athletes before, during and after the competition, staffed by professionals in psychology and psychiatry.

Recently, tennis champion and Olympic torch-lighter Naomi Osaka has also been frank about her mental health issues and her admission, in June, opened a topic which until then had largely been shunned.

Former athlete Naoko Imoto explained the significance. "In Japan, we still don't talk about mental health. I don't think there's enough of an understanding." However, she’s hopeful that attitudes are gradually shifting, thanks to this developing openness.

Biles' honesty is another step in the upward climb towards acknowledging mental health battles in sport. Her self care strategy definitely paid off, allowing Biles to recover enough to compete and take bronze in the individual balance beam at the end of the Games.