Staying mentally healthy is the biggest challenge for athletes during COVID-19 pandemic

In May, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) conducted a survey, which revealed managing mental health and sports careers, as well as nutrition and diet, were the biggest challenges faced by athletes during the unprecedented time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than 4,000 athletes and entourage members from 135 countries and was taken into consideration for the survey. The results highlight that 50 per cent of athletes struggled with the complexity of conducting proper training as a consequence of the restrictions imposed in most countries to contain the virus.

Managing mental health and sports careers (both 32 per cent) were identified as the two biggest challenges, followed by nutrition and diet (30 per cent).

The lack of access to sports facilities and to a normal training schedule, but also the isolation from the wider athlete community, led to a struggle to stay mentally fit. Sixty-three per cent of the entourage members who took the survey also said they found it hard to keep their athletes motivated.

We asked. You responded. We're taking action. Check out the findings from our Covid-19 #Athlete365 Survey https://t.co/id5h66uahx pic.twitter.com/QQLkrotpPy

— Athlete365 (@Athlete365) June 12, 2020

Recognising the importance of mental health, the IOC published a Consensus Paper on Mental Health in 2019, and the topic was extensively discussed at the International Athletes’ Forum last year. These discussions will lead to the creation of a Mental Health Toolkit for athletes.

Additional resources on how to stay positive during isolation were made available for athletes on the Athlete365 platforms at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Furthermore, the IOC launched a series of webinars to support and inspire athletes during these uncertain times. One of them, which took place on 16 June, was specifically dedicated to mental health with Dr Claudia Reardon, a member of the IOC Mental Health Working Group, who shared tips for athletes and their entourages on how to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other webinars opened the floor directly to athletes for them to share the lessons learned and explain how they managed to overcome the issues they were confronted with during lockdown.

RESOURCES FOR ATHLETES

Articles and resources to offer support in relation to areas identified in the survey are already available on Athlete365 and will be updated accordingly:

Isolation from the wider athlete community: British yachtswoman Dee Cafari has spent up to six months alone at sea while sailing around the world, so she is expertly placed to offer advice about coping with isolation.

Staying motivated: Team NL’s Performance Manager in Performance Behaviour, Paul Wylleman, has some top tips to help stay motivated and stay positive during this time.

Funding athletes’ sports careers: the IOC has partnered with Airbnb to create an opportunity to support athletes.

Entourage: Dr Karen Cogan has some advice for entourage members about how best to support athletes during this period.