The 2024 Olympic Games are history. We have to wait another four years to see the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028. Until then, the athletes for whom the 2024 Olympics just ended will hit an unusual period of inactivity. And this results in a dangerous situation for some of them.
David Popovici, Olympic champion, announced that he will take a break for 3 months. PHOTO: The Truth Archive
Post-Olympic depression is still a taboo subject and according to experts there is a large number of unreported cases among participants after the event, writes Agerpres. ”It is the famous iceberg model. You see a few people talking about it, but you don’t see the majority” said psychologist Marion Sulprizio.
According to the expert from the German Sports University in Koln, there are many options that can help prevent athletes from finding themselves in a difficult situation after the Olympics.
”Psychology and sports psychology have a lot to offer and preventive work to do. It’s important for athletes to mentally prepare for what’s to come,” added Sulprizio. “The programs are there. Their use is still not optimal, there is room for improvement”, she also said.
More and more athletes talk about their mental problems after the Olympics, but probably even more avoid these discussions.
”The subject of post-Olympic depression is a taboo subject for many athletes. But this is the case with many mental illnesses. The fear of stigmatization is huge“, Sulprizio also said.
The subject came to the attention of the public when the multiple Olympic champion Michael Phelps spoke about post-Games depression. The American swimmer revealed that he has struggled after every Olympics since Athens 2004.
Phelps, in particular, shows that even veteran champions can be affected, but rookies seem to be particularly exposed.
”Athletes competing for the first time at the Olympics fall into a hole quite quickly,” said Ulli Knapp, the coach of German long jumper Malaika Mihambo. ”More experienced athletes know what to expect, while newcomers are often downright overwhelmed by a huge event like the Olympics.” Knapp added.
