Finding The ‘Happy Bubble’: Mental Health Key For Olympians
Jan 24, 2022, 11:32 AM
RUHPOLDING, GERMANY - JANUARY 16: Benedikt Doll of Germany competes during the Men's 12.5 km Pursuit Competition at the IBU World Cup Biathlon Ruhpolding at Chiemgau Arena on January 16, 2022 in Ruhpolding, Germany. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images)
(Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images)
MIDWAY, Utah (AP) — The U.S. biathlon team has a full-time embedded sports psychologist who travels with the team.
Every member of the U.S. cross country ski team also works with a sports psychologist.
Delfina started competing at 12, by 16 she was breaking records.
At 20, she almost gave up the sport after a tough battle with mental health. Now at 21, she’s an Olympian. 🥇#StrongerTogether #Tokyo2020 #Olympics | @PrensaCOA
— Olympics (@Olympics) July 29, 2021
Recent revelations about the stresses athletes face have helped the public see athletes as human beings who go through ups and downs, just like everyone else. It also helped athletes feel more comfortable about sharing their mental health challenges.
Olympic sports psychologist Sean McCann says the athletes are constantly under some sort of environmental stress, so his job is stress management.
