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Mental Health in Sports
- Vaishanavi Joshi, Sharayu Kakade & Swanandi Bhanose
A 1993 study found that athletes who achieved Olympians and Mental Health
success as world champions experienced Within the realm of world-class athletes,
greater demands, which compromised Olympians, in particular, have recently
future high-level performances in two-thirds advocated for mental health awareness.
of these champions. Only one-third of these Specifically, two of the world’s biggest sports
athletes could successfully control both the superstars — tennis player Naomi Osaka
expectations they placed on themselves and and gymnast Simone Biles — have taken
the external expectations from sponsors, center stage in promoting mental health
the media, and public appearances. Few of awareness.
these athletes had the appropriate support Osaka started receiving attention for mental
to cope with increased demands. health advocacy before the Tokyo Olympic
At the same time, elite athletes are battling Games even began. At the French Open
the stigma that being open about mental months before, Osaka declined to attend
health issues is a sign of weakness. For this a press conference to preserve her mental
reason, mental health has not traditionally health, resulting in a fine and her withdrawal
been discussed within the realm of from the competition. In a subsequent
professional sports despite many athletes article she wrote for Time magazine, Osaka
feeling the weight of anxiety and other requested more privacy and empathy from
mental health struggles. the media.
Mental skills training helps athletes Osaka pointed out the harsh scrutiny that
overcome mental stressors and return to a elite athletes are under and the unfair
state of good mental health more quickly by expectations placed upon them. However,
boosting their proficiency in self-regulation. she also highlighted the valuable lesson
Athletes equipped with mental skills training the French Open incident taught her — that
are better at adjusting and adapting everyone suffers from issues related to
mentally when they face obstacles to deliver mental health or knows someone who does.
outstanding performances. For this reason, The number of messages Osaka said she
numerous athletes partner with sports received since the French Open confirms
psychologists, therapists, or counselors to that humans are all connected by our
develop their mental skills. shared emotions.
Mental toughness is the ability to perform at The outpouring of support for Osaka also
your best under pressure. It is a combination came from fellow professional athletes, such
of psychological qualities such as self- as Steph Curry, Michael Phelps, and Novak
belief, resilience, focus, and motivation. Djokovic, alongside other public figures like
Mental toughness is important in all aspects Michelle Obama and Meghan Markle. Phelps
of life, but it is especially important in sports. even told Osaka that by speaking up, she
Athletes often face high-pressure situations, might have saved a life
such as close games, difficult opponents,
and injuries. Mental toughness allows them
to stay focused and motivated even when
things are tough.
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