Many Olympians have reported feeling depressed after the Video games. sportpoint/ Shutterstock
After the push of competing on the Olympics and Paralympics, you’d count on an athlete to really feel on high of the world as they return residence. However for some athletes, the interval after the Olympics and Paralympics may be an particularly difficult time. Although it won’t impact everybody, many athletes expertise psychological well being issues after competing within the Video games – generally referred to as a “post-Olympic darkish interval”.
Many athletes have opened up previously in regards to the psychological well being struggles they confronted whereas adjusting to life after the Video games. As an illustration, Olympic skier Nick Goepper reported feeling extraordinarily depressed and even contemplated killing himself after returning residence following his bronze medal win on the 2014 Winter Olympics. And essentially the most embellished Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps, has spoken about experiencing extreme post-Olympic melancholy.
In response to analysis from 2021, round 24% of Olympic and Paralympic athletes reported experiencing excessive or very excessive psychological misery after the Video games. There are numerous causes an athlete may expertise a post-Olympic darkish interval. In some circumstances, many elements could also be concerned.
For instance, failing to dwell as much as efficiency expectations, not making a last or not attaining a private finest are all reported to have an effect on an athlete’s wellbeing after the Video games. Below-performing may be significantly distressing, particularly given the Olympics or Paralmypics solely happen as soon as each 4 years. This implies some athletes will solely get one likelihood of their lifetime to qualify.
Different elements linked to post-Olympic darkish intervals embrace the the euphoria of profitable waning, lack of superstar standing, bother readjusting to life at residence, much less social assist from teammates, harm and lack of routine after competitors.
Curiously, even athletes who win a medal or carry out higher than anticipated can expertise post-Olympic darkish intervals – although this won’t occur till weeks after the Video games. For them, the primary a number of weeks following the Video games are crammed with media engagements and appearances. However as curiosity in them subsides, they could start to expertise low temper, isolation and different signs of melancholy.
Even winners can battle with their psychological well being.
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Athletic id
Id can even play a key position in post-Olympic darkish intervals. Many athletes really feel that they should have an intense dedication to their sport so as to obtain success, which regularly begins at a younger age. However having their id solely revolve round being an athlete can even result in psychological well being struggles after they face challenges – corresponding to underperforming, getting injured or retiring, which may all threaten their id. When being an athlete is an individual’s solely focus, it usually signifies that they haven’t invested in different pursuits or thought-about the opportunity of one other profession.
Athletes who felt like they have been dropping their id on this manner after competing within the Olympics reported experiencing poor psychological well being, together with misery and melancholy. Even athletes who’ve a optimistic consequence in the course of the Video games can really feel this manner.
How lengthy these darkish intervals final for can fluctuate between athletes. However specifically, those that battle to let go of poor efficiency might expertise longer-term psychological misery. For instance, one research detailed how an athlete held onto the misery of underperforming on the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics till they have been practically attributable to compete within the 2018 Commonwealth Video games. Retiring after the Olympics or Paralympics might also trigger long run psychological well being issues. One research even confirmed 40% of former athletes struggled to come back to phrases with their retirement and others clung on to the previous – even years later.
Transferring ahead
Many athletes need extra assist after competitors to assist them cope throughout this troublesome time.
A technique of doing that is encouraging them to broaden their identities. Though it sounds counterproductive, encouraging them to be extra than simply “an athlete” might assist assist their psychological well being all through their profession – and at the same time as they face retirement. Something from getting a brand new profession, spending extra time with household and pals and even going to high school may help an athlete do that. Analysis has additionally discovered that having one thing to do – like happening a vacation or going again to high school – was linked with higher wellbeing for athletes after competing.
Growing a brand new sense of self exterior of sport can even assist scale back their emotions of complete id loss when confronted with a troublesome interval of their athletic profession – corresponding to after the Olympics or Paralympics. Analysis even confirmed that athletes who reported feeling in a position to broaden their id felt much less stress and stress – even when confronted with retirement.
Lower than 10% of athletes win medals at Olympic occasions. After so a few years of coaching and preparation it’s comprehensible that an athlete may really feel down or disillusioned after competing. However serving to them see past their efficiency or id as an athlete may assist them higher cope after the Olympics and Paralympics finish.
Lisa O'halloran doesn’t work for, seek the advice of, personal shares in or obtain funding from any firm or organisation that will profit from this text, and has disclosed no related affiliations past their tutorial appointment.
