The Olympic Games is wrapping up in Paris, and for the past few weeks, we have been wrapped up in the victories, struggles and stories of some amazing athletes.
While we are counting down to the Paralympics now, we thought a revisit of some of our favourite Olympic moments was in order. Naturally, our favourite Olympic moments are when athletes spoke openly about their mental health journey’s and advocated for self care.
Here are 4 Olympians who forged a new path in the public narrative about professional athletes and mental health this games. Come back next week for 4 more!
This article was put together with information provided by Psychology Today, Olympics.com and Self Care is For Everyone. Thank you for your amazing coverage!
Simone Biles
No one is surprised that legendary American gymnast Simone Biles tops our list. This now 27 year old stepped out of the 2020 Tokyo Games mid competition to take care of her mental health, and seeing her return in full health has been a victory in its self. Biles success in gymnastics speaks volumes, but it’s her openness about self care, and her support for other gymnasts that makes her a hero in our books.
“We have to protect our minds and bodies rather than just go out there and do what the world wants to do,” she shared on Instagram.
Naomi Osaka
Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka has been outspoken about her mental health journey since she pulled out of the French Tennis Open in 2021. She went on to speak to Time Magazine and shared the now famous words, “It’s ok not to be ok.”
If you didn’t see Osaka on the cover of Time Magazine, there’s a god chance you saw her light the Olympic flame at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games (which took place in 2021). An activist who is unafraid to use her platform for good, Osaka knows what it’s like to grapple with anxiety and depression amid injury.
Tom Daley
Tom Daley is the most decorated diver in history for Great Britain, but made headlines for more than his amazing 10m doubles dive earning him Silver this Games. He also gained a following due to his prolific knitting skills. That’s right, during the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games, Daley was seen in the crowd night after night, knitting as he cheered on his peers. Asked about this during the Tokyo Games, he shared that knitting is a form of mindfulness and meditation for him.
Announcing his retirement after Paris, he also said his highlight was having his kids there to watch. So if you haven’t added knitting and spending time with family it to your self care took box, you can do so knowing it has the Olympic tick of approval.
Raysa Leal
Brazilian skateboarder Raysa Leal was only 13 at the 2020 Tokyo Games, and she felt the full force of the pressure as a teenager. While she earned a Silver medal at that Games, she began implementing self care into her training resume in the years following. Now a regular attender of therapy sessions, she told Olympics.com, “For me, it was truly the best thing I did.” In 2024, she earned a bronze medal for Women’s Street Skateboarding.
