Coronavirus Outbreak: Locked-down athletes face mental health challenge
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus Outbreak: Locked-down athletes face mental health challenge

Firstpost  

Chalmers is one of thousands of athletes whose dreams have been put on hold following the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics, while thousands more around the world are in lockdown with their sporting careers shelved indefinitely. I think I love training more than I love racing.” Chalmers is one of thousands of athletes whose dreams have been put on hold following the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics, while thousands more around the world are in lockdown with their sporting careers shelved indefinitely. “And that’s everybody’s fear, and especially mine, getting out of that structured routine and just trying to work out what to do with that free time now.” Shock phase Health experts warn that a prolonged isolation could take a big mental toll on people whose livelihoods and self esteem are intrinsically linked to competition. “That will help to keep me going.” The top athletes possess exceptional drive, talent and the ability to perform under relentless pressure but they are no less vulnerable to mental health problems. Without the sport, the inability to train, these are absolutely risk factors.” ‘Wigging out’ Many athletes are putting a brave face on the lockdown, converting garages and bedrooms into home gymnasiums and posting cheerful videos of themselves on social media keeping fit by “bench-pressing” their children.

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History of this topic

How sports psychology can boost athletes' performance
3 months, 4 weeks ago

How sports psychology can boost athletes' performance

India Today  

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s trials and tribulations around her disqualification from a Paris Olympics gold medal bout, for failing to make the weight cut, became an example of the kind of mental endurance test athletes can get subjected to at the highest levels of sports. Dr Sanika Divekar, senior sports psychologist at the athlete mind performance vertical of Mpower, a holistic …

The ‘post-Olympic blues’: Why do so many competitors suffer an emotional comedown?
4 months, 4 weeks ago

The ‘post-Olympic blues’: Why do so many competitors suffer an emotional comedown?

New York Times  

The Olympics should be the pinnacle of an athlete’s career. “Sports psychologists didn’t really get it.” Athletes “wanted to be supported through the post-Olympic blues by somebody who’d been through it,” Howells says. In a 2018 paper, Howells wrote that athletes with a greater “myopic” performance focus are more at risk of the ‘blues’. “The biggest difference I’ve seen is …

These Olympic Athletes Were At Their Breaking Point. Here’s How They’re Changing Their Approach In Paris.
5 months, 2 weeks ago

These Olympic Athletes Were At Their Breaking Point. Here’s How They’re Changing Their Approach In Paris.

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING Professional athletes endure immense pressure to deliver results, keep sponsors satisfied, and constantly stay in the spotlight. “It’s been a challenge to kind of figure out what that healthy boundary is for my mental health with sport,” Carissa Moore, a five-time world champion regarded by many as one of the greatest female surfers of all time, told …

At Paris, the Olympics make space for mental health too
5 months, 2 weeks ago

At Paris, the Olympics make space for mental health too

Hindustan Times  

Paris: Located on the first floor of the fitness centre inside the Athletes Village rests a first-of-its-kind room. That elite athletes, even the unmatched Michael Phelps kind, aren’t immune to mental health issues really came to the fore around the pandemic Games. An IOC Athlete365 survey revealed “that mental health was one of the top priorities for athletes”, Kirsty Burrows, …

Mental health and the Olympics: How the USOPC is preparing for the toll on athletes
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Mental health and the Olympics: How the USOPC is preparing for the toll on athletes

New York Times  

Follow our Olympics coverage from the Paris Games. “Sometimes, it feels really anticlimactic.” Despite one of the most successful sporting careers ever, Michael Phelps battled depression and has been outspoken about the need for more mental health care for athletes. Bartley, who has worked with the USOPC since it created a mental health task force in 2020, said that her …

Sports culture is ‘intimidating’ and putting people off working out
1 year, 2 months ago

Sports culture is ‘intimidating’ and putting people off working out

The Independent  

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. …

The mental and physical tolls of the tennis season weigh on players by the US Open
1 year, 4 months ago

The mental and physical tolls of the tennis season weigh on players by the US Open

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Novak Djokovic considers his mental state just as important as his physical condition when it comes to being prepared to play his best at age 36. “I just feel that there is always, I guess, an extra gear that you have inside of you and you can find when you dig deep to handle and manage energy …

Behind The News
1 year, 7 months ago

Behind The News

ABC  

Cale Matthews, BTN Reporter: It's 6am. Professor Rosie Purcell, Melbourne University: There's an awful lot that we don't know and understand, so this is a group that hasn't really had a lot of attention paid to it, and that's ironic because most mental health issues actually start in this age range of between, say 12 to 25. Harry Bruce: You …

Universities focus on athletes’ mental health after crises
2 years, 1 month ago

Universities focus on athletes’ mental health after crises

Associated Press  

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! “And not only our football student athletes — with all of our student athletes.” Clinksdale said after he was informed that Christian Eubanks, 18, and Caleb VanHooser, 19, had been killed in a single-vehicle wreck just outside of Indiana State’s Terre Haute campus, he went to …

Mental health hovers over Olympics, on its way to mainstream
2 years, 10 months ago

Mental health hovers over Olympics, on its way to mainstream

Associated Press  

ZHANGJIAKOU, China — At the Tokyo Olympics, mental health was the breakout star. “I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned after the last Olympics is being as open as possible,” snowboarding sensation Chloe Kim told reporters after she took the gold medal on Thursday in the halfpipe competition. After snowboarder Jamie Anderson, who came to Beijing as the two-time defending …

Finding the ‘happy bubble': Mental health key for Olympians
2 years, 11 months ago

Finding the ‘happy bubble': Mental health key for Olympians

Associated Press  

MIDWAY, Utah — Sean McCann peered at the targets through a spotting scope and used a hand-held magnetic board to mark where the bullets hit. Biles’ courage prompted Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history and an athlete who has been up front about his mental health struggles, to proclaim “it’s OK to not be OK.” “It was a …

Finding the 'happy bubble': Mental health key for Olympians
2 years, 11 months ago

Finding the 'happy bubble': Mental health key for Olympians

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Biles' courage prompted Michael Phelps the most decorated Olympian …

Mental health among athletes spotlighted in tumultuous 2021
3 years ago

Mental health among athletes spotlighted in tumultuous 2021

Associated Press  

Simone Biles understands now that she was struggling long before she arrived at the Tokyo Olympics, where the unofficial face of the Games and one of the greatest gymnasts of all time was unable to force a smile and push her way through on the world’s biggest stage. Michael Phelps, retired swimmer and winner of a record 23 gold medals, …

2021 Notebook: For athletes, mental health took center stage
3 years ago

2021 Notebook: For athletes, mental health took center stage

Associated Press  

THE BACKGROUND: It was the year that mental health took a prominent position in the sports world — led by two female athletes, Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka. ___ ASHLEY LANDIS, AP photographer who covered Biles at the Tokyo Olympics: I think all of us who were covering it, we didn’t really know what was going on. ___ JENNA FRYER, …

We need to do more about player mental health - ITF chief
3 years, 5 months ago

We need to do more about player mental health - ITF chief

The Hindu  

Tennis governing bodies take mental health issues extremely seriously but are aware that more needs to be done to support players in that area, International Tennis Federation chief David Haggerty told Reuters. "Mental health is very, very important," Haggerty, who is also an International Olympic Committee member, said in an interview at the Games. Naomi Osaka's withdrawal from the French …

Two Athletes Test Positive for Covid-19 in Olympic Village: Officials
3 years, 5 months ago

Two Athletes Test Positive for Covid-19 in Olympic Village: Officials

News 18  

Two athletes have tested positive for the coronavirus in the Tokyo Olympic Village after a team colleague was also infected, officials said on Sunday, raising fears of a cluster just days before the opening ceremony. The Olympic Village, a complex of apartments and dining areas in Tokyo, will house 6,700 athletes and officials at its peak when the delayed 2020 …

WNBA Star Liz Cambage Withdraws From Australian Olympic Team, Citing Anxiety
3 years, 5 months ago

WNBA Star Liz Cambage Withdraws From Australian Olympic Team, Citing Anxiety

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING BRISBANE, Australia — After weeks of feeling so anxious she could hardly sleep or eat, WNBA star Liz Cambage decided the best way to ensure she maintained her mental and physical health was to pull out of Australia’s Olympic team. Cambage posted a statement on social media Friday to say the prospect of having no friends, no …

Citing anxiety, Cambage pulls out of Aussie Olympic team
3 years, 5 months ago

Citing anxiety, Cambage pulls out of Aussie Olympic team

Associated Press  

BRISBANE, Australia — After weeks of feeling so anxious she could hardly sleep or eat, WNBA star Liz Cambage decided the best way to ensure she maintained her mental and physical health was to pull out of Australia’s Olympic team. Cambage posted a statement on social media Friday to say the prospect of having no friends, no family, no fans …

Tokyo Olympics 2020: Indian athletes have become more open to mental health, says John Gloster
3 years, 5 months ago

Tokyo Olympics 2020: Indian athletes have become more open to mental health, says John Gloster

Firstpost  

John Gloster first came to India in 2005 to become India men’s cricket team’s physiotherapist. Currently, he is the head of Sports Science at the GoSports Foundation and has worked with many of the Tokyo-bound athletes as well as grassroots athletes on sports psychology, medicine among other things. Firstpost caught with Gloster to speak on the challenges that India’s Tokyo-bound …

Into the open: struggles of the female athlete
3 years, 6 months ago

Into the open: struggles of the female athlete

The Hindu  

In 2019, Utkarsha Pawar, 22, from Pune, began journalling. Added layers of pressure There are two parts to building mental health in athletes: Performance enhancement on field and well-being off field, says Divya Jain, a sports psychologist from Fortis Healthcare. The nuances of women’s sport While we will never know the depth of Naomi Osaka’s mental health condition — she …

Sponsors hail Naomi Osaka's 'courage' on mental health after star's French Open pullout
3 years, 7 months ago

Sponsors hail Naomi Osaka's 'courage' on mental health after star's French Open pullout

Firstpost  

Osaka received criticism by some who say the media events are just “ part of the job." That would explain why so many of them have stuck by Osaka after the four-time Grand Slam champion announced on Monday that she was withdrawing from the French Open because she didn’t want to appear for the requisite news conferences that caused her …

Times columnists talk Naomi Osaka, mental health, the media and seeing athletes ‘as humans’
3 years, 7 months ago

Times columnists talk Naomi Osaka, mental health, the media and seeing athletes ‘as humans’

LA Times  

Naomi Osaka’s initial decision to skip French Open news conferences and her later withdrawal from the tournament due to her battle with depression and anxiety sparked international debate about the role of media and athletes’ mental health. Under those rules — not the media rules, the league’s rules — the postgame news conference format is actually the best and easiest …

How to return to playing after Covid
3 years, 7 months ago

How to return to playing after Covid

The Hindu  

The Covid-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on physical activity and sport, distressing professional, elite, collegiate, strategic, work-related and recreational athletes at all levels. For athletes preparing to return to play, the residual effects of illness can complicate medical clearance, protocols for returning to play or activity, and monitoring. Cardiovascular complications The cardiovascular sequela of Covid-19 illness presents challenges …

COVID-19 pandemic stress on Australian athletes revealed as Tokyo Olympics loom
3 years, 8 months ago

COVID-19 pandemic stress on Australian athletes revealed as Tokyo Olympics loom

ABC  

Life as a professional athlete is a stressful business — particularly during a global pandemic. Key points: Research has found COVID-19 has been the most stressful influence in athletes' lives There's been a 79 per cent jump in mental health referrals among athletes compared to last year A survey found nearly half of all athletes experienced anxiety due to the …

Op-Ed: Are youth sports harming our kids’ mental health?
3 years, 9 months ago

Op-Ed: Are youth sports harming our kids’ mental health?

LA Times  

Members of the Brattleboro, Vt., Union High School’s girls’ varsity soccer team practice on Sept. 8, 2020. Evidence suggests that as young people compete more intensely in sports, gains in mental wellness may be replaced by mental health challenges particular to competitive athletics. Supporting psychological well-being in our young athletes feels especially urgent as we emerge from a pandemic that …

Olympic legends address importance of mental health in sports at Laureus Forum - Sports News
4 years, 1 month ago

Olympic legends address importance of mental health in sports at Laureus Forum - Sports News

The Hindu  

A group of global sporting stars have come together at the inaugural Laureus Sport for Good Mental Health and Wellbeing Forum even to underline how sport can play to reverse the global mental health crisis among young people. The international field was joined by Laureus Hong Kong Ambassadors Lee Lai Shan, Wong Kam Po, Malina Ngai Man Lin, Alex Fong …

Opinion I Athletes aren’t products, they’re human
4 years, 4 months ago

Opinion I Athletes aren’t products, they’re human

Live Mint  

Kokichi Tsuburaya can’t run and it kills him. That only a few win; that it won’t last; that you will be cast aside; that winning doesn’t always mean long-lasting happiness; that when you are done you are often ready for nothing else. Athletes train themselves to mask weakness, lock away vulnerability and keep—as Phelps says—“pain out of sight”. Bindra is …

Sports: The natural remedy against a virus
4 years, 6 months ago

Sports: The natural remedy against a virus

The Hindu  

“ Jaan hai to jahaan hai ” was the war cry of our Prime Minister to tackle a seemingly dangerous virus as a severe lockdown was enforced on March 23. Without clarity on what the new standard operating procedures will be — and I suspect there will be varying procedures across the world — athletes will need to adapt and …

Clubs urged to pay more attention to players' mental health during coronavirus crisis
4 years, 7 months ago

Clubs urged to pay more attention to players' mental health during coronavirus crisis

Daily Mail  

Clubs have been urged to pay greater attention to the impact of coronavirus on their players' mental health, according a union document seen by Sportsmail. The four-page report, entitled Guiding Considerations For A Safe Return To Work And Play, has been drawn up by the World Players' Association ahead of a conference call on Wednesday involving the players' representatives in …

P.T. Usha: If COVID continues, the anxiety will be a burden
4 years, 7 months ago

P.T. Usha: If COVID continues, the anxiety will be a burden

The Hindu  

With some of the country's top athletes resuming training in a small way, the next thing to look forward to will be when and how the country gets back to competition. “If this situation continues, more than the virus, the anxiety over what could happen if one is infected would be a huge mental burden for athletes when competitions resume,” …

Coronavirus Outbreak: Athletes should not be rushed back into action, says World Players Association
4 years, 8 months ago

Coronavirus Outbreak: Athletes should not be rushed back into action, says World Players Association

Firstpost  

Sports around the world has come to a halt this year, starving clubs and federations of revenues and putting tens of thousands of professional athletes on hold Athens: Professional athletes across the world should not be rushed back to action once the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, and they must have a strong say in determining the conditions for their return, the …

Mental stress for athletes: From ‘let’s play’ to ‘stay home’
4 years, 8 months ago

Mental stress for athletes: From ‘let’s play’ to ‘stay home’

Associated Press  

MINNEAPOLIS — The flu-like illness Michael Jordan fought through to lead the Chicago Bulls to a crucial victory in the 1997 NBA Finals created instant fodder for the virtue of perseverance. “You really don’t know what the next day holds,” Buffalo Sabres star Jack Eichel said. ”Every morning you wake up, you don’t have to go to the rink, you …

Coronavirus: Sharp rise in footballers reporting depression symptoms
4 years, 8 months ago

Coronavirus: Sharp rise in footballers reporting depression symptoms

The Hindu  

Increasing numbers of professional footballers are struggling with anxiety and depression having been forced out of action with the sport suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report by global players' union FIFPro released on Monday. FIFPro surveyed 1,602 players across 16 countries, including England, Scotland, France, Australia and the United States, with 468 female players featured in …

AFI urges athletes to stay mentally strong during lockdown, take advantage of extra time ahead of Tokyo Olympics
4 years, 8 months ago

AFI urges athletes to stay mentally strong during lockdown, take advantage of extra time ahead of Tokyo Olympics

Firstpost  

The Olympics, originally scheduled for July-August, has been postponed to next year in the wake of the fast-spreading COVID-19 pandemic The Athletics Federation of India on Monday urged athletes to stay mentally strong amid the nationwide lockdown and take advantage of the extra time they have got to prepare for the postponed Tokyo Olympics. The Olympics, originally scheduled for July-August, …

Coronavirus Outbreak: Athletes doing their bit to boost public health with online fitness classes during COVID-19 shutdown
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus Outbreak: Athletes doing their bit to boost public health with online fitness classes during COVID-19 shutdown

Firstpost  

Besides Radcliffe, other Olympic athletes involved include two-time 100-meter champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica, who is reading her children’s book, and 2012 100 hurdles champion Sally Pearson of Australia, leading a pre-natal workout class Dusseldorf: Moving from the track to the living room, many athletes around the world are doing their bit to boost public health during the coronavirus pandemic. …

Reading Devdutt Pattanik, spending time in kitchen: How Bajrang Punia is coping with coronavirus
4 years, 9 months ago

Reading Devdutt Pattanik, spending time in kitchen: How Bajrang Punia is coping with coronavirus

India Today  

The coronavirus outbreak has shredded the global sporting calendar and has led to the suspension of nearly every event that was supposed to be held around this time of the year. However, with the Covid-19 lockdown, the athletes are also left with plenty of time with no traveling and outdoor training in the period. Bajrang has set his WhatsApp profile …

Supporting mental and psychosocial well-being need of the hour
4 years, 9 months ago

Supporting mental and psychosocial well-being need of the hour

The Hindu  

A survey conducted by the Indian Psychiatry Society reveals "the number of people suffering from mental illness in the country has shot up by a significant 20 per cent within just one week of the coronavirus outbreak." Like everything else, the sporting world has come to a standstill, and there are growing concerns regarding the mental health of athletes. Consultant …

Coronavirus: Athletics anti-doping programme ‘disrupted’
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus: Athletics anti-doping programme ‘disrupted’

The Hindu  

The Athletics Integrity Unit has acknowledged that its anti-doping programme will be “severely disrupted” because of the coronavirus pandemic. The AIU, the independent anti-doping watchdog for track and field set up in 2017, operates testing procedures in more than 100 countries. READ: After Munich, pressure on NRAI to cancel New Delhi World Cup “As a result, there is no doubt …

Valentin Altenburg on mental impact COVID-19 has on athletes
4 years, 9 months ago

Valentin Altenburg on mental impact COVID-19 has on athletes

The Hindu  

While the entire world is struggling with the coronavirus, Germany has done well to keep the fatality rate low despite being among the top-five nations in terms of positive cases. Valentin Altenburg, the German junior men’s hockey coach who also led the national team to a bronze at Rio Olympics, believes a joint effort from the government and people was …

Isolated athletes face mental health risks, warn experts
4 years, 9 months ago

Isolated athletes face mental health risks, warn experts

The Hindu  

Fear, stress and money worries: coronavirus lockdown is hard for anyone, but athletes are facing extra mental health risks as they go from highly active lifestyles to isolation and boredom, experts warn. Long-term effects on athletes after the SARS and swine flu outbreaks included anxiety, obsessive hand-washing and fear of getting too close to people, Carolyn Broderick, Tennis Australia's chief …

How to beat lockdown blues: IOC has pointers for athletes
4 years, 9 months ago

How to beat lockdown blues: IOC has pointers for athletes

The Hindu  

Having postponed the Olympics in Tokyo to next year, the International Olympic Committee has taken the next step to keep the athletes tuned to a positive mindset, amidst the depressing scenario painted across the globe by the coronavirus pandemic. Bringing the world of athletes under one umbrella through Athlete365, for which the Olympic and non-Olympic athletes can sign-up, the IOC, …

'Putting us in danger' - athlete concerns grow ahead of Olympics
4 years, 9 months ago

'Putting us in danger' - athlete concerns grow ahead of Olympics

The Hindu  

Olympic pole vault champion Katerina Stefanidi said athletes were being forced to take health risks as competitors started to speak out about holding the Tokyo Games during the coronavirus crisis. Stefanidi and British heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson both voiced concerns after the International Olympic Committee said it was “fully committed” to running the Games as scheduled from July 24. READ | …

Don’t lose spirit, keep focussing on training: Rijiju to athletes
4 years, 9 months ago

Don’t lose spirit, keep focussing on training: Rijiju to athletes

The Hindu  

With the coronavirus outbreak bringing all sports activities to a halt in the country, Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday urged the athletes to not lose spirit and keep working hard to stay battle ready for competitions. Due to coronavirus, sporting events and competitions are postponed temporarily but I appeal all our athletes not to lose the spirit, keep practicing …

Leagues postponed, athletes infected – coronavirus plunges sport into the twilight zone
4 years, 9 months ago

Leagues postponed, athletes infected – coronavirus plunges sport into the twilight zone

CNN  

CNN — With the outbreak of the novel coronavirus dimming the spotlight on the sporting world, LeBron James, as is often the case these days, turns orator. “What we really need to cancel is 2020!” James’ exasperation is well-placed because sport and cancel are two words that don’t juxtapose easily. “Is it worth playing football without spectators?” Pep Guardiola asked …

Coronavirus Outbreak Leads To Empty Sports Stadiums
4 years, 10 months ago

Coronavirus Outbreak Leads To Empty Sports Stadiums

NPR  

Coronavirus Outbreak Leads To Empty Sports Stadiums Sports leagues are scrambling to figure out how to deal with the coronavirus. Christen Press of the reigning World Cup champion U.S. women's national soccer team hasn't had to play in a fanless stadium yet. GOLDMAN: At this point, neither the NBA nor the other major pro sports leagues in the U.S. have …

How to handle mental health issues? Sportsmen spell out
5 years, 1 month ago

How to handle mental health issues? Sportsmen spell out

The Hindu  

The urge to give up I almost gave up cricket at the end of the 2002-03 season. READ| Depression in cricket: Waking up to mental health Somehow my dad had slipped a hanging ball into my bag and in England I got the chance to resume the routine. Now when I look at it and all the talk about the …

As one star rises, another takes a break. Are the mental health challenges young athletes face too great?
5 years, 1 month ago

As one star rises, another takes a break. Are the mental health challenges young athletes face too great?

ABC  

On a Wednesday afternoon there were — generously — 500 people scattered around the cavernous MCG to witness the debut of a 17-year-old Victorian batsman who has been reflexively and rather haphazardly labelled "the next Will Pucovski". It is both dangerous and disrespectful to speculate about the reasons for Pucovski's decision and particularly about his mental health beyond what he …

Mental health issues faced by professional athletes cannot be viewed as an opponent
5 years, 3 months ago

Mental health issues faced by professional athletes cannot be viewed as an opponent

ABC  

From the earliest age, we tell them they can win. For many years the stigma attached to mental health issues among athletes ensured authentic conditions were often cruelly equated with mental weakness. Despite the growing list of high-profile athletes who have died while suffering mental health problems, it is dangerous to lump all cases together. While those suffering chronic mental …

Sport has made much progress in the field of mental health – but there’s still a long way to go
5 years, 5 months ago

Sport has made much progress in the field of mental health – but there’s still a long way to go

The Independent  

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Indeed, the …

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