The disorder that keeps elite athletes awake at night

BarcelonaAfter opening up like never before to tell her situationRicky Rubio joined the ranks of international superstars such as Simone Biles, Michael Phelps, Naomi Osaka, and Andrés Iniesta, who were among the first athletes to break taboos and speak openly about their mental health issues. Contrary to what most fans imagine, most cases arose at a time of great sporting success.

According to data from the International Olympic Committee's Action Plan, a study conducted in July 2023, 33.6% of elite athletes suffer from anxiety and depression. The figures remain alarming beyond retirement, as 26.4% continue to experience mental health issues once their athletic careers have ended. "Having money doesn't exempt you from having mental health problems. The anxiety or depression problems that an elite athlete suffers are the same as those suffered by any ordinary person. The only thing that changes are the circumstances that cause them. Athletes ask me why this happens to them if they have everything. They live with a great sense of guilt." She has become one of the most respected sports psychologists. The Catalan has treated Ricky Rubio and Àlex Abrines, two players who left the NBA to prioritize their mental health.

The B-side of sporting success

Simone Biles, one of the greatest gymnasts in history, took advantage of the Tokyo Olympics to put mental health front and center. "I want to focus on my mental health. After the first vault, I realized I couldn't continue. Luckily, now more than ever we can talk about mental health in sports. We have to protect our bodies and minds, instead of always doing what others want us to do," she explained alongside her teammates. The image went viral. Biles had suffered abuse from the national gymnastics team's doctor, Larry Nassar, and clashed with the federation for not sufficiently protecting the athletes.

Michael Phelps also showed the downside of sporting success. The 28-time Olympic medalist became the spokesperson for other, less high-profile teammates. "We all said, 'Nobody helps us,' and 'We're just products.' I saw myself as just a swimmer, not a human being," Phelps admitted. Words likedepressionandsuicideThey appeared naturally in their arguments.

An extreme demand that paralyzes

Naomi Osaka isn't an athlete like any other. When she was at the height of her career, the Japanese tennis player decided to take a break and spend a few months off from competition. The tennis player, who admitted to suffering from depression, highlighted the need to talk about the mental health of athletes. "I feel like everyone expects me to always win, and that if I let them down, I'll feel even more alone. Everyone sees me as an athlete, but if I lose, what am I?" she explained. "I've often thought that people don't take our mental health into consideration. I've seen many videos of athletes breaking down in press conferences after losing, something that has happened to me too. It's like finishing off someone who has fallen. I don't understand the reasons why people ask us questions that make us doubt," she explained.

Football also hides many cases of mental health problems. From Sergi Darder to Bojan Krkić and Joan Verdú. Andrés Iniesta took advantage of an interview in Saved (La Sexta) to recall the period in which he suffered from depression. The shock coincided with a moment of sporting success. "People are driven by hope, and in a situation like this, you don't have it; you don't feel things. I was wishing night would come so I could take a pill and rest," he acknowledged. The death of his friend Dani Jarque and a succession of injuries put him on the ropes.

Àlex Abrines, a Barça basketball player, has resigned from the Spanish national team and will announce his retirement in a few days. He is only 31 years old. "Before, people didn't want to talk about it for fear that fans would say we're privileged to play basketball, that we have a lot of money, houses, cars... But we have reasons to feel bad. Elite athletes are people and we have problems. We have privilege and stability, but we should create programs so that everyone has the opportunity to stop when they find themselves." in an interview in the ARA.