Sunday, October 1, 2023
News Media Empire
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Home
  • World News
  • Politics
  • Business & Economy
  • Money
  • Science & Tech
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Crypto
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • World News
  • Politics
  • Business & Economy
  • Money
  • Science & Tech
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Crypto
No Result
View All Result
News Media Empire
No Result
View All Result
Home Health

‘Bigger than media’: Olympians call for greater mental health support for athletes

June 16, 2021
in Health
0
‘Bigger than media’: Olympians call for greater mental health support for athletes
0
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on RedditShare on Whatsapp


Canadian Olympic champion Alexander Kopacz is no stranger to media attention.

While the 31-year-old former bobsledder enjoyed the spotlight during his athletic career, he felt there were times when there was no escape.

Get Free Advertise Coin

Read more:
‘Risks just too high’: Calls grow to cancel Tokyo Olympics amid Japan’s COVID-19 surge

“Virtually, there was no option. You just had to deal with it,” Kopacz said about the press commitments, which he added were the most demanding during the gold medal run at the 2018 Winter Games in South Korea.

“It’s a bit of a double-edged sword,” he told Global News.

After a late-night finish tying for gold with the German duo at the two-man bobsleigh race in Pyeongchang, Kopacz and his teammate Justin Kripps were up until 3.30 a.m. in the morning doing interviews, before waking up at 9 a.m. and talking to more journalists well into the afternoon.

Story continues below advertisement

“I would have preferred to have waited till the end of the four-man races,” he said, as they had to quickly shift gears to focus on training for the four-man event the next day.


Gold medalists Alexander Kopacz and Justin Kripps of Canada celebrate during the medal ceremony for Bobsleigh – 2-man on day 11 of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games on February 20, 2018 in Pyeongchang, South Korea.


Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images

It’s a sentiment shared by other professional athletes.

The world’s eyes will be on Tokyo next month as competitors from across the globe gear up for the Olympic Games.

Aside from the stress of competing for their country, athletes will also have to deal with media and fan pressure that can often take a mental toll on them, experts say.

“They’re facing it on social media, in the news and so that can be quite detrimental to athletes’ mental health,” said Katherine Tamminen, associate professor of sports psychology at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education.

Story continues below advertisement

Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka is a prime example. The world No. 2 and four-time Grand Slam champion made headlines last month after she announced she would not take part in any press commitments at the French Open, citing mental health concerns because of the kind of questions asked by reporters.

“We’re often sat there and asked questions that we’ve been asked multiple times before or asked questions that bring doubt into our minds and I’m just not going to subject myself to people that doubt me,” the 23-year-old said in a May 26 statement posted on her social media accounts.

❤️ pic.twitter.com/EegFSKnoie

— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 26, 2021

The Japanese player ended up being fined $18,000 and later withdrew from the tournament.

Story continues below advertisement

Tamminen said Osaka’s case showed how an athlete tried to set some boundaries and took proactive steps to protect their mental health.

Read more:
Denmark soccer player Christian Eriksen stable in hospital after collapsing during match

It’s an aspect that can easily get overlooked in professional sports and not given the same importance as the physical side, said Adam Naylor, a sports psychologist based in Boston, Mass.

“It’s easier to hide mental health issues rather than share them,” he told Global News.

Trending Stories


  • Canada tops world in vaccinated population as new COVID-19 cases fall below 1,000


  • Trudeau, Canadian delegation check in to COVID-19 hotel after overseas G7 trip

The evolution of media in the digital age has multiplied the stress factor, Naylor added.

“We’re almost in an era where even if you coach someone up, the media is happening so quickly between live media, social media, it’s almost impossible to be able to feel like you’re saying the right things, representing yourself the way you want to.”


Naomi Osaka of Japan conducts an on-court interview wearing a mask after her victory against Patricia Maria Tig of Romania in the first round of the 2021 French Open on May 30, 2021.


Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images

In a May 31 statement, Osaka opened up about suffering long bouts of depression since winning the U.S. open in 2018.

Story continues below advertisement

“Though the tennis press has always been kind to me, I am not a natural public speaker and get huge waves of anxiety before I speak to the world’s media,” she wrote.


Click to play video: 'Saskatchewan track athlete making final push for Olympics'






1:52
Saskatchewan track athlete making final push for Olympics


Saskatchewan track athlete making final push for Olympics

During his National Football League career, American running back Ricky Williams found a unique way to cope with the media attention through his insistence on wearing his helmet during post-game interviews. He was later diagnosed with social anxiety.

Public speaking and the constant pressure to give thoughtful answers can also cause anxiety, said Naylor, especially for high-profile athletes.

“Some of the most elite world-class athletes know that they have a wonderful forum to stand on, so that is a lot of pressure.”

Marathon runner Dayna Pidhoresky, who will be making her Olympic debut for Team Canada next month, said she finds it overwhelming if there are more media requests than usual, which has been the case since she qualified for the Tokyo Games in 2019.

Story continues below advertisement

“Media coverage is something that … I’ve always just viewed as an obligation,” the 34-year-old from Windsor, Ont., said.

Read more:
A look at what it takes to get athletes through a disaster like COVID-19

“I’m sure there are people who love it, but I’m not like one of those people. I’m very shy.”

Pidhoresky said she received a media training guide from Athletics Canada for the upcoming Olympics, with tips on what to expect in Tokyo and how to answer tough questions.

To help better support athletes and their mental well-being, sports bodies need to put structures in place so there is easy access to psychological support, especially for newcomers and those who cannot afford private coaches, said Tamminen.

“We need to work more towards normalizing mental health concerns and that they are legitimate and important and that they deserve as much, if not more, attention than physical injuries among athletes.”


Dayna Pidhoresky celebrates after finishing the 2019 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon as the top Canadian woman, in Toronto, on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019.


THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

The role of post-match interviews and the way they are conducted also should be reconsidered, Tamminen added.

Story continues below advertisement

Kopacz said political questions at times would put him on the spot and he found it helpful to know what he would be asked ahead of time so he could prepare before the interview.

Most big sporting events have mandatory pre-game and post-game media protocols, with interest from broadcasters and sponsors to consider.

After Osaka’s boycott, all four Grand Slams issued a joint statement warning the Japanese player that repeated violations could lead to more substantial fines and future suspensions.


Click to play video: 'Tennis players forced to train for Australian Open while in quarantine'






2:10
Tennis players forced to train for Australian Open while in quarantine


Tennis players forced to train for Australian Open while in quarantine – Jan 18, 2021

Federations and organizers need to put the athlete’s mental well-being at the forefront instead of making “money-driven” decisions, according to Pidhoresky.

“Athletes are humans and they might be really good at what they’re doing, but they also have struggles.”

Story continues below advertisement

Appropriate accommodations should be made to respect the athletes’ privacy, said Naylor.

“The real game-changer, if we look at the science and literature of it, is organizations becoming more mental health literate.”

“This is bigger than just media.”




© 2021 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.





Source link

Tags: CanadaCanadians at OlympicsHealthMental healthmental health of athletesNaomi OsakaNaomi Osaka French Openolympic games 2020OlympicsOsaka French Open withdrawalSportsSports PsychologyTeam CanadaTokyo Olympics 2020
Previous Post

Boy, 3, found unconscious on boat after watching both parents drown in lake

Next Post

£35m boss of Alibaba ‘lying low’ after bid to be China’s richest man blocked

Related Posts

Want to sleep like Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi? Here's what one expert suggests | CBC Radio
Health

Want to sleep like Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi? Here’s what one expert suggests | CBC Radio

October 1, 2023
Children once had their spines checked in Canada. These experts want to bring it back | CBC News
Health

Children once had their spines checked in Canada. These experts want to bring it back | CBC News

October 1, 2023
Student violence on teachers is a growing concern. What can be done? - National | Globalnews.ca
Health

Student violence on teachers is a growing concern. What can be done? – National | Globalnews.ca

September 30, 2023
Next Post
£35m boss of Alibaba 'lying low' after bid to be China's richest man blocked

£35m boss of Alibaba 'lying low' after bid to be China's richest man blocked

Kate Middleton and Prince William have 'subtle' way to show 'romantic affection' in public

Kate Middleton and Prince William have 'subtle' way to show 'romantic affection' in public

Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Wednesday | CBC News

Coronavirus: What's happening in Canada and around the world on Wednesday | CBC News

Discussion about this post

AdvertiseCoin ADCO Get Now Free
News Media Empire

Newsmediaempire is an online news source that provides the latest news and other information about everything that you must need to know. It publishes news related to various fields like world, business, sports, politics, tech, health, lifestyle, and other different exclusive stories.

Let's connect!

Categories

  • Business & Economy
  • Crypto
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Money
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Science & Tech
  • Sports
  • World News

Recent News

  • Exact date £300 cost of living payments will reach bank accounts from DWP October 1, 2023
  • Gemini Eyes Revised Proposal in Latest Update in Feud With DCG October 1, 2023
  • Bride 'can't speak' and groom is 'dead inside' after Iraq wedding fire kills family October 1, 2023

Join Our Newsletter!

    • About Us
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    newsmediaempire.com © 2021 All rights reserved.

    No Result
    View All Result
    • About Us
    • Contact
    • Home 1
    • Home 2
    • Home 3
    • Privacy Policy
    • Random
    • Sample Page
    • Terms & Conditions

    newsmediaempire.com © 2021 All rights reserved.

    en English
    ar Arabicbg Bulgarianzh-CN Chinese (Simplified)nl Dutchen Englishfr Frenchde Germanit Italianpt Portugueseru Russianes Spanish
    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.