From the outside, the life of an athlete can seem elegant, with glamour, money, fame and all that. Little do we know about the struggles they go through mentally every day to get to the top of their profession. (More cricket news)
These are some of the biggest icons in the sports world who have struggled with mental health issues.
Virat Kohli (cricket)
Playing cricket non-stop for over a decade, captaining the Indian team in all formats for seven years. Virat Kohli I knew I had to give him a break at some point. Coming off a month-long break before the 2022 Asian Cup, she opened up about his mental health issues, admitting that she was “trying to fake his intensity even though his body was telling her to stop.” “.
“For the first time in 10 years, I didn’t touch my bat for a month. I realized that I was trying to fake my intensity a bit recently. I was convincing myself that no, you had the intensity. But your body tells you to stop,” Kohli said.
Up close and personal with @imvkohli!
Returning from a break, Virat Kohli talks about introspection, realization and his way forward. 👍
Full interview coming soon https://t.co/Z3MPyeKtDz 🎥
Watch this space for more ⌛️ #TeamIndia | #AsiaCup2022 | #AsiaCup pic.twitter.com/fzZS2XH1r1
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 27, 2022
“I was experiencing that I wasn’t excited to train, I wasn’t excited to practice, and that really bothered me because I’m not who I am, and I literally needed to get away from that environment,” he added.
A month-long vacation with his family rejuvenated Kohli. He came back with a bang, scoring his first T20I century during the 2022 Asia Cup match against Afghanistan, his first ton in three years and 71 overall.
Michael Phelps (Swimming)
Even the most decorated Olympian in swimming history had to go through a serious mental health crisis. He owns 28 Olympic medals, including 23 gold, Phelps revealed that he suffered from anxiety and depression during the peak years of his career.
“I struggled with anxiety and depression and wondered if I wanted to stay alive or not. It was when I got so low that I decided to reach out and ask for help from a certified therapist. This decision ultimately helped save my life. You don’t have to wait for things,” Phelps tweeted.
I struggled with anxiety and depression and wondered if I wanted to stay alive or not. It was when I got so low that I decided to reach out and ask for help from a certified therapist. This decision ultimately helped save my life. You don’t have to wait for things.
—Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) May 26, 2019
Depression first hit Phelps after the 2004 Athens Olympics. While the American was recovering while preparing for the 2008 Olympics, another period of depression hit him after success at the Beijing Games. From there, Phelps said, he continued to show up in waves before seeing a therapist.
Ben Stokes (Cricket)
Kohli’s English counterpart suffered a series of panic attacks following the loss of his father, taking an indefinite break from cricket in July 2021. The multi-talent said he felt a deep bitterness towards the sport due to a lack of support. of the Hierarchy of England.
Stokes he said he pondered whether he was “playing for the wrong people” as the left-hander was unable to visit his ailing father, who died in 2022 due to brain cancer. In an Amazon documentary, Stokes, who has retired from the ODIs, revealed that he continued to take anti-anxiety medication even after returning from the break.
🗣️ “The experiences I went through are the experiences a lot of people go through”
England captain Ben Stokes talks about the positive reactions he has received to his recent comments about his mental health issues ❤️ pic.twitter.com/zEzDbcCd9v
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 24, 2022
“But it’s not done just because I’m back playing. I still talk to the doctor, not as regularly, and I continue to take medication every day. It’s an ongoing process,” said Stokes, England’s 2019 World Cup-winning hero.
Naomi Osaka (Tennis)
When the then World No. 2 withdrew from the 2021 French Open citing mental health issues, it shocked the tennis world. She was only 23 years old, too young to be tired of her sport or the world.
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 31, 2021
osaka revealed that he has been suffering from long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018 and has had a hard time coping. The Japanese also revealed in a recent interview that she had been writing diaries to keep her thoughts in order.
Simone Biles (Gymnastics)
only 25, simone bile She has become the most decorated gymnast of all time with seven Olympic medals, including four gold. Amidst all the glory, the spotlight and the shiny medals lay a human being who had fought his own fights and who came to the fore during the Tokyo Olympics last year.
the love and support i have received has made me realize that i am more than my achievements and gymnastics i never really believed in before. 🤍
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) July 29, 2021
Biles withdrew from the all-around individual competition and the women’s team final in Tokyo, saying she was struggling mentally and that it posed a risk to her physical safety at the time. “For anyone who says I quit. I didn’t quit, my mind and body just aren’t in sync,” Biles wrote in an Instagram post.
Biles’ withdrawal was a huge shock to all of America, but she knew what she had to do at the time for herself, a decision that was applauded by many. She may not have won a gold in Tokyo, but she made a statement by “choosing herself” over a medal.
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