Olympic swimmers prioritise mental health ahead of Paris Games
Updated: July 8, 2024, 10:10 PM CDT
The Olympic swimming roster has been finalized, and 48 swimmers are training to compete for the gold medal in Paris. Athletes stress the importance of mental health in their training. Some Olympians are as strict with their mental health as they are with their physical health. Carson Foster, a U.S. swimmer from Mason, Ohio, admitted to experiencing self-doubt. “I wondered why I can't step up and race like I've seen Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte and so many others do. They always seem to do it well. At that point, I wondered if I could just not do it when it matters,” Foster said. Foster said it was tough to ask for help to combat her mental game. “I was like, I don't want to do that, I'm embarrassed, I don't want anyone to know if I did that. I didn't know anyone at the time who did that, and I was like, why can't I do it on my own,” Foster said. Other U.S. swimmers echoed Foster's sentiments. “I was scared at first, I was scared to ask for help. But I finally asked for help and realized I had missed it for a long time, and it all fell into place from there,” said U.S. swimmer Regan Smith. Fellow U.S. swimmer Kate Douglas also emphasized the importance of mental health support. “I think mental health support is so important for everyone, especially at our level, and it certainly helped me deal with the expectations and the pressures going into this meet,” Douglas said. Alex Walsh, who will compete in the 200m individual medley in Paris, reflected on her stressful experience leading up to the 2020 Olympic final. “I remember three years ago, I was crying before the final. It was so stressful, so nervous, and it was definitely a different situation than it is going to be going into this week. But I think meeting and talking to someone about the mental side of swimming definitely helped me,” Walsh said. Hunter Armstrong, from Dover, Ohio, reflected on what had been a tough year for him personally. “I went through a long period of time where I was off practice and sleeping 12 to 16 hours a day,” Armstrong said. Armstrong not only sought help from Team USA's sports therapist, but also received support from relay teammate Jack Alexie. “He showed up after class, he'd finished practice, and he showed up so I didn't have to swim alone. So Jack is really one of my best friends and this relay is really special to me. I use sports psychology, but it's also really great to have great teammates,” Armstrong said. For Foster, a balance between mental and physical fitness was key to his success. “It's easy to let this take over your life and feel like it's all about swimming. He's not just doing it with me. He works with my whole family and tells me that in these times, during training and especially during meets, that's the best way to support Carson. That's been the best thing,” Foster said. The U.S. swimming team begins competition in Paris on July 27.
The Olympic swimming roster has been finalised, with 48 swimmers preparing to challenge for gold in Paris, highlighting the importance of mental health in training.
Some Olympic athletes work just as hard on their mental health as they do their physical health.
Carson Foster, a swimmer from Mason, Ohio, who represents the U.S. team, admitted to experiencing self-doubt.
“Why can't I step up and race like Michael Phelps or Ryan Lochte or any of those guys? They always seem to do it well. At that moment, I wondered why I just can't do it in the big moments,” Foster said.
Asking for help to combat the mental game can be difficult, he said.
“I was like, I don't want to do that, I'm embarrassed, I don't want anyone to know if I did that. I didn't know anyone at the time who did that and I thought, why can't I do it on my own?” Foster said.
Other swimmers on the U.S. team echoed Foster's sentiments.
“I was scared at first, I was scared to ask for help. But then I finally asked for help and realized what I'd been missing for so long, and it all fell into place from there,” said Regan Smith, another swimmer on the U.S. team.
Fellow U.S. team athlete Kate Douglas also stressed the importance of mental health support.
“I think that's really important, especially at our level, and obviously it helped me deal with all the expectations and pressure going into this tournament,” Douglas said.
Alex Walsh, who will compete in the 200m individual medley in Paris, reflected on the stressful experience leading up to the 2020 Olympic final.
“I remember crying before the final three years ago, I was so stressed, so nervous and it was a totally different situation to going into this week, but I think meeting and talking to someone about the mental side of swimming definitely helped me,” Walsh said.
Hunter Armstrong, of Dover, Ohio, reflected on what has been a tough year personally.
“I missed a lot of practice and was sleeping 12 to 16 hours a day,” Armstrong said.
Armstrong not only sought help from the U.S. team's sports therapist, but also got support from relay teammate Jack Alexie.
“He showed up after class, he'd already finished practice, so I didn't have to swim alone. Jack is really one of my best friends, so this relay is special to me. I definitely use sports psychology, but it's also really nice to have great teammates,” Armstrong said.
For Foster, balancing mental and physical health has been key to his success.
“It's easy to feel like swimming rules your life and it's all about swimming. He's not just doing it with me. He works with my whole family and tells me that's how he can best support Carson during these times, during training and especially during meets. That's been the best part,” Foster said.
The U.S. swimming team will begin competing in Paris on July 27th.
